COAST: Coordinated Outreach for Areawide Specialized Transportation
Senior Transportation Expansion Project
Overall Project Purpose
- To improve transportation options for the Greater Dayton Region's mobile elderly
- To use what is learned to eventually improve transportation options for other transportation-dependent special populations
As the number of senior citizens grow, the issue of lifelong mobility (
:15 kb) becomes increasingly important, both nationally and here in the Greater Dayton Region. Because Greater Dayton is a very automobile-dependent region, many seniors face the very real possibility of becoming isolated if they can no longer drive safely. In fact, transportation consistently is identified as one of the top three concerns of senior citizens. Isolation can lead to decline in mental and physical health, plus a decrease in the overall quality of life for seniors.
Recognizing this problem, new Federal SAFETEA-LU requirements, the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Program, 49 U.S.C. 5310, specify that under the New Freedom Program, regions will be provided formula funding for new transportation services beyond those required by ADA to assist elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. Coordination among human service transportation providers is required for eligibility for these funds.
MVRPC got a head start on these federal requirements with the establishment of the COAST (Coordinated Outreach for Areawide Specialized Transportation) Task Force in March of 2005. Since that time, between 30 and 50 representatives of human service agencies, transportation providers and local elected officials have met monthly to explore new and creative ways to provide transportation services to the region's growing senior population, especially those who do not qualify for the existing Americans with Disabilities Act transportation service provided by the Greater Dayton RTA (Project Mobility).
A community-wide summit addressing the transportation issues of the elderly was held on October 15, 2005 and attended by approximately 150 interested parties. Dr. Helen Kerschner , a nationally-recognized expert on the issue of senior transportation addressed the session and met separately with members of the COAST Task Force in a working session.
As a result of the efforts of the COAST committee, funding was obtained from Montgomery County Supported Services Levy and the Greater Dayton RTA in July of 2006. These funds will be used to provide more rides to more seniors in the remainder of 2006 and to plan for continued expansion of services in 2007 and beyond. Partners in this effort include: the City of Kettering , Trotwood HandiVan, Brookville HandiVan, Life Essentials and the Wesley Community Center .
Options for expanding the existing senior transportation network (:325 kb) are also being explored, including applying to create a local affiliate of the Independent Transportation Network, an innovative membership-based senior transportation program recognized as a model program by the White House Council on Aging.
For more information on COAST and the issue of senior transportation, you can contact Bob Steinbach at 937.223.6323 or bsteinbach@mvrpc.org.