Ingrid KochWisconsin Department of

TransportationNew Freedom Program Manager

MTAP Winter MeetingDecember, 3 2009Phoenix, Arizona

Mobility management in WisconsinHas a “person” centered focusmaximizes resources through the process of

collaborationAttends to a person’s transportation needsFundable under a number of federal

programs.New Freedom (Section 5317) for projects general

in natureWETAP (JARC and state funds) for projects

focusing on employment or low-incomeSome by STRAP (Supplemental Transportation

Rural Assistance Program)

Evolution of mobility management in Wisconsin

Formation of Wisconsin’s Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination (ICTC) in October, 2005

One of the eleven priorities in the 2006 Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plans

ICTC Conference held in April, 2007Two NTI sessions of “Coordinated Mobility” in June,

2007WI New Freedom program developmentfirst grant cycle in fall, 2007 for project

implementation in calendar year 2008Promotion by WisDOT staffPut into practice by mobility managers in the field

Significant challengesPer the 2000 census, Wisconsin’s population

density is high when compared to the rest of the nation, but roughly on par with the U.S. if low-density Alaska is removed from the calculation.

Population density varies dramatically across the state.Rural areas average 32 persons per square mile,

some with less than 10 persons per square mile.In contrast, the City of Milwaukee has 6,214

persons per square mile.Public transportation service, as it is traditionally

known, is virtually non-existent in many of the extremely rural areas of the state.

Population density

Mobility managers - 2008

29 mobility managers throughout the state

16 hired - first New Freedom application cycle

9 funded by JARC / WETAP (Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program)

4 funded by STRAP (Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program)

Mobility managers – 2009 47 mobility managers

throughout the state 20 - New Freedom 18 - JARC / WETAP 4 - STRAP 5 - other federal,

state and/or local funding sources

Who employs them?Aging and Disability Resource Centers /

Departments and Commissions on Aging / Senior Services Agencies

Cities, Counties / Transit CommissionsTransit AgenciesUnited Way / Women’s Employment CenterIndependent Living CentersCommunity Action Coalitions / Programs /

Service Agencies / Community Development Agencies

Social / Human Service Agencies / Economic Opportunity Councils

Who decides what the projects are?Activities and projects were identified and

defined through the locally developed human services transportation coordination planning process

Local decisions drive project activitiesWisDOT does not proscribe mobility

management projects or activitiesProjects funded by New Freedom must be an

eligible activity as described in the NF Circular

Mobility Management Training Program initiative

Needed an organized, efficient manner in which to share information, best practices and other resources

Annual program with continuation based on needFully sponsored by WisDOT RFQ for contracted services with a national

consultantConsultant subcontracts with a meeting planner to

handle logistics

Objectives

Assist mobility managers in becoming effective and efficient very quickly

Provide training on topics relevant to mobility management

Build awareness of resources and best practices

Develop a strong peer network with other mobility managers in the state and across the nation

Components Four 2-day workshops in 2008

Five in 2009 and planned for 2010

Monthly teleconferences facilitated by consultant

Two Google groups18 mobility managers were

fully sponsored to attend the 18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation in Omaha in October, 2008

Considering the possibility of sponsoring some to attend the 19th National Conference in Burlington, Vermont in October, 2010

What’s included in the curriculum?

Results

Increased effectiveness and efficiency of mobility management projects

Increased education and awareness of resources

Greater knowledge about funding sourcesIncreased transportation coordination

resulting in more rides for more people

2008 projectsOnly 6 of 72 counties were not yet involved in mobility management projects

2008 projects in place

Numerous regional mobility management projects

3 formally identified in 2008 New Freedom projects

2 separate regional projects cover 18 and 20 counties respectively

2008 programs

2009 mobility management

projects69 of 72 counties were involved in mobility management activities, either on a county basis, regionally, or both

2009 projects and programsContinuation of most of the projects from

20089 new mobility management projects

2 are regional4 new one-stop call centers4 new ‘Work-n-Wheels’ car loan programs1 new voucher program1 additional travel training program3 new service projects

Preliminary service data for CY2008, projections for CY2009-2010

Preliminary mobility management data for CY2008, projections for CY2009-2010

2009’s other notable accomplishmentsCreation of the Wisconsin Mobility Managers’ logoMobility Managers were folded into the Wisconsin

Rural and Paratransit Providers AssociationProvides credence and reinforcement of the value of

mobility management as a wholeUltimate vision is for them to establish their own

Association called WAMM – Wisconsin Association of Mobility Managers

Implementation of the Wisconsin Mobility Management certification programCertification is by WisDOT and will pass to the

Association after 2010Requirements include completion of five steps:

core curriculum supplemental curriculum one-year practicum peer sharing a final exam

What’s in store for 2010?

Proposals for continuation of all of the projects from 2008 – 2009 plus:three new mobility management projectsthe initial appearance of “car sharing”

programsseveral transportation orientation programstwo new service projects

Continuation of the training program

More information