Door-to-Door and Door-through-Door Transportation Needs Assessment
County Area Agency on Aging/Community and Senior Services, Los Angeles County (2010)

This countywide non-emergency medical transportation needs assessment was undertaken through a series of agency interviews, consumer focus groups and a 3,000 agency mailing to assess the quantity and types of needs for door-to-door, door-through-door and portal-to-portal assistance required by seniors, persons with disabilities and persons of low-income. The project's intent was to develop an understanding of their needs in order to construct an approach by which the county AAA could address these needs, in the form of grant applications for New Freedom and Job Access and Reverse Commute funding.  The approach included quantifying door-to-door transportation and door-through-door transit needs throughout Los Angeles County.  The recommended operating plan described a "program of projects" approach, inviting projects of volunteer mileage reimbursement, taxi subsidy, escorts on paratransit and mobility management activities.  Project costs were estimated.  Legal and liability issues as well as various management issues, particularly those associated with volunteer-based projects, were examined.

      

Transportation Pilot Needs Analysis of North San Diego County
San Diego County Behavioral Health Department (2009)

The County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Services was concerned about the mobility needs and concerns of its consumers.   Individuals with behavioral health issues have unique problems in navigating public transit.  These may include higher levels of anxiety about missing buses or getting lost and difficulties navigating a complex system.  They share with the general public a strong desire for independent travel and the problems of car ownership on limited incomes.

This North San Diego area pilot study involved site visits with 15 County behavioral health programs to document existing transportation services for approximately 2,700 enrolled consumers.  The Agency records transit line-item expenditures of approximately $220,000 for the North County.  Field work determined that the primary expense item was to buy-down public transit bus passes for these low-income consumers.  Operational costs for a small fleet of 11 vehicles, usually one or two vehicles per agency, were significantly smaller than anticipated.

Consumer focus group discussions, four held in two areas of the county with seniors and with non-senior adults, found considerable enthusiasm for mobility management, information tools, and volunteerism among and between consumers to increase transit ridership and mobility choices.  Transit travel buddies, rideshare opportunities and volunteer drivers with modest mileage reimbursement were among the consumer-oriented options identified.

Direction to the Agency prioritized strengthened communication with the public transit services system through improved information, including with the countywide CTSA [consolidated transportation services agency] and North County Transit District.  Other recommendations focused on consumer programs to use the abilities and knowledge transit-using clients in aiding other consumers.  Four goal areas and eight programming strategies, including costs and implementation issues, provided guidance for Agency next steps.

               

     

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Go Local Program
City of Laguna Woods, Laguna Woods, CA (2008)

In response to Orange County Transportation Authority's offer of planning grant assistance, the City of Laguna Woods, CA undertook planning efforts to develop local services promoting linkage to the regional rail service, Metrolink.

AMMA Transit Planning led a team to consider Metrolink connections for Laguna Woods, CA, predominantly a retirement community, with 18,000 seniors living in and around Laguna Woods Village.  Needs assessments included a city-wide household survey, traditional fixed-route service planning in relation to the seven Orange County Transportation Authority routes, and the eleven Laguna Woods Village routes that cover the set, and development of recommendations of value to both Orange County Transportation Authority and the City of Laguna Woods. 

Of particular interest for the largely senior population was the development of tools to encourage public transit use.  These included way-finding maps of rail stations and a detailed travelers guide to make bus-rail-bus trips to an attractive regional destination.
                    
                       
                                                                 
    Metrolink Train at Irvine, CA Metro Station                  Laguna Woods Village Bus

 
   OCTA Fixed Route buses at Irvine, CA Metro Station