Coordinated Transportation

Richland County has a growing variety of transportation needs not provided for adequately by the private sector. Seniors, whether living alone or in a group setting, need access to vital off-site medical care as well as trips to shopping and recreation. Unemployed workers without cars need transportation to training and workplaces. Even the least vulnerable of us can face drastically altered transportation needs if we break a leg or lose our privilege to drive. These needs and the services provided for them are collectively called Public Transit and Human Services Transportation. A variety of services are available in Richland County, ranging from the local public transit system to retirement community vans. While the need for these services continues to increase, funding resources remain limited. Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) has required transit agencies with fixed route service to extend service to persons with disabilities. One means of doing this is through increased coordination of services. This can improve the amount of service provided while using the same resources. A more fully coordinated transportation system can provide comprehensive and user-friendly services efficiently. Transportation programs may share resources, facilities, and information and coordinate trip reservations, scheduling, dispatching, and passenger trips. Currently, many social service programs that serve the elderly, children, low-income, and persons with disabilities either operate independent transportation programs or have no transportation at all. The result is either a duplication in services or people with unmet transportation needs.

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Mobility Manager

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The Agency Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) formed the mobility manager position to coordinate existing routes and vehicles. The goal is to bring efficiency to the roster of transportation services in Richland County. Social service agencies within the county can contract with the mobility manager to have trips scheduled with one of seven area transportation companies. The mobility manager schedules trips based on an analysis of what assistance the rider needs, the fare from the rider’s door to the destination door, and any other unique conditions. At the end of the month, a single invoice is created for each social service agency which combines trips taken with every transportation companies. For the Area Agency on Aging, each trip taken by their clients during the month is also entered into their online billing program by the mobility manager. Visit the Richland County Mobility Management website here; https://www.richlandcountymobilitymanagement.org/ 

You can contact Richland County’s mobility manager, Lyndsie Martin via email by clicking here.

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Plan

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The Coordinated Plan is intended to provide policies, goals, objectives, and techniques used for public involvement, planning, and coordination activities to be conducted by the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, the Agency Transportation Advisory Committee, and local partner agencies to provide coordinated public transit and human services transportation in Richland County. Ultimately, it is meant to broaden the dialogue and support collaboration between local and regional human service agencies and transportation providers to link people with the services that they want and need.