Work Link Task Force Members
|
Anne LeClerc, Chair |
RI Public Transit Authority |
|
Tony Bagaglia |
Dept. of Human Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services |
|
Chris Clarkin |
Child and Family Services |
|
Elaina Goldstein |
University of Rhode Island / Rhode to Independence Steering Committee |
|
Danielle Hetu |
South Shore Mental Health Center |
|
Jeanne Hunter |
Department of Human Services |
|
Maura Silvia |
Northern RI Educational Collaborative |
|
Mark Susa |
Accessing Community Transportation |
|
Devorah Weiner |
University of Rhode Island |
|
Dale Williams |
Work Opportunities Unlimited |
|
Alice Woods |
Southern RI Educational Collaborative |
|
Charles Zawacki |
Blackstone Valley ARC |
2004 Accomplishments
Joblinks Demonstration Grant and Deliverables
Most of the activity in 2004 centered around a grant that RIPTA, with the Transportation Workgroup acting as an advisory board, was awarded, called the Joblinks Demonstration grant from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). CTAA is a national association committed to improving mobility for all people. It conducts research, provides technical assistance, offers educational programs and serves as an advocate in order to make coordinated community transportation available, affordable and accessible.
The Joblinks grant was geared to improving the quantity and quality of transit-related information available to the general public as well as the Department of Labor & Training and other job developers. Goals included the following:
Develop and distribute a guide to transit services for the state.
Five thousand copies of "A Guide to RIPTA Services" were printed and distributed. It was well received and RIPTA is currently looking for additional funding to print more copies.
Develop, distribute and provide training in the use of a guide to mobility management for the state.
A Guide to Mobility Management was printed in the spring of 2004. It includes general information about transportation options throughout the state, instructions for individualized transportation needs assessment, travel training skills development, and long-range mobility plan development. It was designed to aid in integrating transportation assessments and plans into any individualized employment or education plans, and point to the relationship between transportation needs and employment and housing searches. It provides sample mobility plans, contact telephone numbers, and other reference materials. The goal is that employment specialists, job training programs, family assistance programs, and others may use the guide to develop targeted intake and evaluation forms, to train staff to evaluate and address transportation needs, particularly in employment searches. Staff from the One-Stop Centers, the Employer Services Network, the public defender's office, and teachers and transition coordinators from the regional Educational Collaboratives were introduced to the guide. The Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections will also receive instruction on the guide in 2005.
Meet with each One-Stop Center to discuss transportation needs and barriers. RIPTA attended partner meetings at some One-Stops and Employer Service Network meetings in all regions. The need for service in unserved and under-served areas was discussed
Develop a method for job developers to track met and unmet transportation needs and barriers. Collect data and evaluate at least annually to develop a picture of need in the state.
The Guide to Mobility Management included a data collection tool, and RIPTA attempted to solicit information from agencies. None of the ideas for institutionalizing this kind of data collection have been feasible. Most agencies are unable to take on additional data collection.
RIPTA is currently conducting an origin and destination survey of passengers to check how well the system is meeting the needs of current passengers.
Open a dialogue with the business community about transportation needs of employees.
There was little progress on this goal in 2004 due to staffing issues.
New Goals
At the end of the year, the Transportation subcommittee began discussing its continuing goals. It has tentatively put forward the following ideas, which have yet to be discussed by the full committee.
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Make transit training a part of school and independent living skills training curricula. Include parent/caregiver education as appropriate.
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Look for ways to publicize RIPTA and transportation issues within any Rhodes to Independence efforts.
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Work with employers to determine what services, information, or new programs are needed. Determine if transportation is a barrier to recruiting and retaining employees, particularly employees with disabilities.
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Conduct a survey of riders and non-riders with disabilities to determine why people do or don't use RIPTA. Use the results to improve promotion of RIPTA services and provide results to RIPTA's Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee for use in improving RIPTA's services to people with disabilities.
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Develop a program to address issues in the pedestrian environment that prevent or impede transit usage.
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