Print Back to Calendar Return
    9.    
TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: 02/08/2021  
Subject:    UPDATE on the Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan.
Submitted For: TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Department: Conservation & Development  
Referral No.: 18  
Referral Name: REVIEW transportation plans and services for specific populations, including but not limited to...the Contra Costa County Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan.
Presenter: John Cuningham, DCD Contact: John Cunningham (925)674-7833

Information
Referral History:
The Committee has received occasional updates on the Accessible Transportation Strategic (ATS) Plan which was initiated in 2019. The Draft Final Plan is now available and is attached to this report. This is a joint effort between the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Board and the County, with CCTA acting as lead agency.

Peter Engel, CCTA Director of Programs and lead agency staff overseeing the ATS Plan, will attend the February TWIC meeting.
Referral Update:
Accessible Transportation Strategic (ATS) Plan Background
Origin: The ATS Plan was a recommendation in CCTA's 2017 Contra Costa Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP). The CTP identified a need to address the challenges associated with: (1) different types of accessible transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities; (2) multiple transportation providers including cities, transit operators, social services agencies, and non-profit organizations; and (3) diverse, and sometimes overlapping, service areas.

In order to fund the ATS Plan, CCTA and the County jointly developed a successful Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant which was awarded in 2018.

Purpose: The ATS Plan addresses the unfulfilled recommendations in the three previous countywide studies which were similar in scope (1990, 2004, 2013) and responds to the expectations set in the 2016 and 2020 Transportation Expenditure Plans (TEP), which was to "implement a customer-focused, user-friendly, seamless coordinated system”.

In addition, the ATS Plan helps fulfill a requirement placed on CCTA in 2019 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in its Resolution 4321, that CTAs/CMAs must meet the following mobility management requirement: “Each county must establish or enhance mobility management programs to help provide equitable and effective access to transportation.” Mobility management in this context refers to a centralized point of contact that facilitates ease of use of a variety of transportation modes by people with disabilities and older adults.

Scope of Work: The ATS Plan has three primary goals:
• Evaluate the existing services and provide corresponding recommendations for improvements
• Identify alternative models for service delivery, present those alternatives to stakeholders, and select a final preferred model
• Develop a detailed implementation plan for that model

Oversight: The ATS Plan is overseen by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of Regional Transportation Planning Committee representatives, transit staff, city staff familiar with accessible transit, a representative of veterans services, elder/disabled advocates, Contra Costa Health Services, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Oversight is also provided by the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) which is comprised of executive leadership from the non-profit/advocacy community and transit agencies, elected officials representing the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and Board of Supervisors, and Contra Costa Health Services.

Detailed membership rosters are included on page 1-5 of the attached ATS Plan.

Update
The ATS Plan is currently in draft final form and is attached to this report. Consistent with the purpose and scope described above, the Plan is comprehensive and covers a range of specific programs, agencies, policies, and history. At the TWIC meeting staff will limit the presentation to:
1) A summary of the "Task Force/Coordinated Entity" Recommendations of the ATS Plan (Page 5-1), and
2) Discussion of potential Board of Supervisors actions.

Once the item is in front of the full Board of Supervisors staff would like to have the Nelson/Nygaard consultant team provide a full presentation.

1) Task Force/Coordinated Entity Recommendations of the ATS Plan
The ATS Plan provides a two-step recommendation to address the need for a new entity to oversee accessible transit issues in the County. First, a Task Force similar to the composition of the ATS PAC would be formed. Second, that Task Force would "define and establish a dedicated countywide Coordinated Entity". The rationale for the new entity is described in detail in the ATS Plan, in summary there is general agreement that without an ongoing entity this plan would remain "on a shelf" similar to the past 3 studies.

In addition to defining the Coordinated Entity the Task Force would also be charged with 1) identifying funding for implementation, and 2) determining what agency would implement the other ATS recommendations.

Discussion
  • The Task Force/Coordinated Entity recommendation generated discussion at the most recent ATS PAC meeting with comments addressing what type of entity that could/should be.
  • Significant concerns regarding the need for new funding were raised several times at the January 28th ATS PAC meeting. The comments were consistent with the ATS Plan which unequivocally states the need for new revenue, "Additional funding will be necessary to implement any of the recommendations...a significant need will be ongoing funding to support operations...With the failures of the 2016 and 2020 transportation sales tax efforts the opportunities for additional public sector secured revenue are limited."

2) Proposed Board of Supervisors Actions
The ATS Plan describes the broader accessible transit ecosystem as follows: "...responsibilities in this area are diffused over numerous agencies and differing service areas", and "...accessible transit is somewhat unique in terms of transportation governance; there is no agency that has the established, sole authority to assume leadership in this area..."

Given the complex governance nature of accessible transportation and Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit and the various relevant County Departments that have transportation responsibilities and needs, staff will propose appropriate BOS action language but would like feedback from the Committee.

Discussion
  • The County does have some of the "diffused responsibilities" in this service area, staff would like the Board of Supervisors action to include direction to impacted Departments to cooperate with the Task Force to identify overlapping service areas and opportunities for collaboration. At a minimum, these would include Contra Costa Health Services, Employment and Human Services, and Public Works (General Services).
  • During the 1/28/21 ATS PAC meeting a number of concerns were raised regarding the Task Force and the (eventual) Coordinated Entity recommendation. Specifically, concern was expressed that current Measure J funding allocations should not be compromised due to this effort. The ATS staff team has discussed addressing these concerns with BOS and/or CCTA Board action.


Schedule/Next Steps:
Monday, February 8: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors: Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee
Wednesday, March 3: Contra Costa Transportation Authority: Planning Committee
Tuesday, March 9: Board of Supervisors
Wednesday, March 17: Contra Costa Transportation Authority: Board of Directors



Other Notes
  • At the outset of the planning process staff from the Department of Conservation and Development and Contra Costa Health Services (including the Health Plan) had several exploratory meetings to discuss how the ATS Plan could support CCHS operations and how they could be more involved in the process. The collaboration was not continued due to the overwhelming demands of the COVID-19 response.
  • Outreach to Veterans Affairs generated useful information that was previously unknown to ATS staff and the consultant team. In summary, issues with transportation services for veterans are similar to the broader population, there are significant service gaps and eligibility limitations and it is difficult to navigate transportation benefit administrative requirements.
  • The WCCTAC Board discussed the ATS Plan at their 1/22/21 meeting, comments included Debora Allen (BART Board) noting that there is plenty of analysis, leadership and political champions are needed, Tom Butt (Mayor, Richmond) questioned why there are so many agencies running this type of service, his own city has had challenges running a program, and there is a need for coordination and a model to serve the whole county, Rita Xavier (Vice-Mayor, San Pablo) commented that there needs to be a countywide solution, and Chris Kelley (Mayor, Hercules) expressed support for a one-call, one-click system.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Receive the update on the Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan, recommend that the Board of Supervisors consider the item, and direct staff as appropriate.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
None.
Attachments
DRAFT Final ATS Plan

AgendaQuick©2005 - 2024 Destiny Software Inc., All Rights Reserved