Services for Non-Drivers include transportation options for three groups of people who are sometimes referred to as “transportation disadvantaged.” These groups are: seniors, people with disabilities who do not drive, and low income people without a reliable transportation. These services are also sometimes referred to as Human Services Transportation, because clients of various human services agencies often rely on some form of specialized transportation. In 2019, MVRPC's Board adopted an update to the Miami Valley Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan.. The final Regional Action Plan is available for review and download.
Miami Valley Ride Finder
Miami Valley Ride Finder is designed to provide contact information as well as general information about public and non-profit transportation providers in and around the Miami Valley.
Human Services Transportation Coordination Council
The Human Services Transportation Council was formed to improve transportation options for seniors, people with disabilities and low-income individuals, in part by implementing the recommendations of the Regional Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan.
The Council meets quarterly to provide input on making specialized transportation improvements and to share information concerning transportation for non-drivers. The committee is open to public, private and non-profit transportation providers, as well seniors and individuals with disabilities and advocates for those groups This Council discusses the transportation needs of the populations identified above and makes recommendations on how to meet those needs in a coordinated fashion.
One of the benefits of being a Council member is that members are made aware of transportation funding opportunities, including the recently revamped Section 5310 program, known now as Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities. Active participation in the Regional Transportation Coordination Council, including attendance at the quarterly meetings, is mandatory in order for an entity to request and potentially receive Section 5310 funding in Greene, Miami, Montgomery and northern Warren Counties or to be eligible to provide services contracted through the 5310 program.
Other benefits of being a Council member include networking with a variety of agencies involved in specialized transportation, having ongoing input into the coordination planning process, identifying potential coordination or contracting opportunities, receiving updates on innovative transportation efforts and being made aware of resources and training opportunities.. Meetings are typically held the fourth Tuesday in February, May, August and November. Exact time and location may vary and will be announced to Council members several weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting details will also appear on MVRPC’s website.
For more information about membership in the Human Services Transportation Coordination Council, or if you have questions about the revamped Section 5310 program, please contact Serena Anderson, Transportation Coordination Planner at sanderson@mvrpc.org or 937.531.6524.
Human Services Transportation Coordination Overview
The Greater Dayton Region is very automobile-dependent. The vast majority of trips for work, recreation, education or essential errands are made in a privately-owned car. If you are able to drive and you own a dependable car, our Region is pretty easy to navigate. The traffic isn't too bad, and for most people, the commutes are reasonable. But if you are a non-driving senior or a person with a disability who doesn't drive, getting around can be a challenge. The same is true for a person without a reliable car who needs to find a job or needs to get back and forth to that job. As a matter of fact, reliable transportation is the second biggest barrier (behind childcare) for many people entering the workforce.
There are options for non-drivers. If an individual lives near a bus line, and can use standard bus service, there are many destinations that are accessible. Many organizations also provide specialized transportation, usually in the form of small vans, for people with special transportation needs. The problem is that providing transportation in a Region that continues to "spread out" is complicated and expensive. Many suburban neighborhoods and destinations are not accessible by fixed route bus and are isolated from shopping, doctors and other essential services. As more seniors “age in place” in car-dependent neighborhoods, the transportation challenge will grow.
To make better use of the limited transportation funds available to non-profits and governments, and to make more transportation available to those who need it, our Region conducted a Human Services Transportation Coordination planning process. The original 2008 Regional Action Plan identified existing services, gaps in service and recommended strategies for improvement.
The 2019 Update of the plan identified four Regional Human Services Transportation Priorities. While there are many gaps in transportation services that need to be addressed and improvements that can be made, four areas have emerged that deserve specific attention:
- Increase the level of coordination among transportation providers to improve access to medical care, employment and food for residents of the Miami Valley Region.
- Provide more transportation service to the Miami Valley region through new services or expansion to existing services.
- Recruit and train more paid and volunteer drivers.
- Improve public awareness of transportation services in the Miami Valley region, including expansion of materials and programs to orient individuals to using transportation services.
Transportation Options for Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Low Income Individuals
The Miami Valley has a variety of public and non-profit transportation resources available to non-drivers. Please visit www.miamivalleyridefinder.org to learn what resources are available in your community. This website was designed through a New Freedom grant from the Federal Transit Administration and updated as needed by MVRPC staff.
