Building Partnerships: How HUD Envision Centers
are Leveraging Mobility and Transportation toSupport Community Needs

Presentation to HUD Partners, Region 4
June 10, 2021

Some Things to Remember
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On behalf ofAlvera Crittendon
HUD, Region IV,Regional EnVision
Center Coordinator

LaGrange Housing Authority

Zsa Zsa HeardG. Jocies Edmondson

Sabrina AllenCOVID ReliefFederal Transit
Administration
Danielle Nelson

Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM)
Mission
The CCAM issues policy
recommendations and implements
activities that improve the availability,
accessibility, and efficiency oftransportation for the following
targeted populations:
People with
Disabilities

History
The CCAM is an interagency partnership established in 2004
by Executive Order 13330 to coordinate the efforts of theFederal agencies that can fund transportation for targeted
populations.

Organization
DOT
Secretary

Older Adults
Individuals of Low
IncomeFederal transportation coordination
helps provide more transportation
options, share resources, and improvecustomer service through innovation.

HHS
Secretary

ED
Secretary

DOL
Secretary

VA
Secretary

USDA
Secretary

HUD
Secretary

DOI
Secretary

Attorney
GeneralSSA
Comm’rNCD Chair

19CCAM Objective: Transportation Coordination
Articulating the importance of transportation coordination must start at the Federal level toencourage our CCAM grantees to serve more transportation-disadvantaged individuals in an
efficient, innovative, and equitable manner.

Coordinated transportation improves:
Availability andAccessibility

Efficiency

Innovation

Provide moretransportation options bystreamlining policies andencouraging collaboration.

Share resources, save funds,
and improve efficiency within
the 130 Federal programs thatmay fund transportation.*

Improve customer service
by developing andimplementing futuretransportation models.

*To increase transportation coordination, the CCAM published the CCAM Program Inventory in 2019, which identifies 130
eligible Federal programs that can fund human service transportation for CCAM’s targeted populations.

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FY2021 CCAM Pilot Program NOFO Coming Soon
The FAST Act Section 3006(b) Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program
Rides to Wellness
Demonstration and Innovative
Coordinated Access andMobility Grants (FY2016)

Access and Mobility
Partnership Grants (FY2019)

Mobility for All Pilot Program
Grants (FY2020)

Region 1: MA, NH, VT

Region 1: MA, ME, NH, RI, VT

Region 1: MA, ME

Region 2: NY

Region 2: NJ, NY

Region 2: none

Region 3: MD, PA

Region 3: DC, MD, PA, VA, WV

Region 3: DC, MD, VA

Region 4: FL, GA, NC, TN

Region 4: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC,SC, TN

Region 4: GA, NC, SC

Region 5: IL, MI (3), OH

Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

Region 5: MI

Region 6: noneRegion 6: LA, NM, OK, TX

Region 6: LA

Region 7: IA, MO

Region 7: MO

Region 7: IA, MO

Region 8: none

Region 8: CO, SD, UT

Region 8: none

Region 9: CA (2)Region 9: AZ, CA

Region 9: CA, NV

Region 10: none

Region 10: OR, WA

Region 10: OR (2), WA
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Free Technical Assistance (TA) Centers
These TA centers provide a range of services that support the provision and coordination oftransportation services and promote the mobility of Americans.
NADTC’s mission is to promote the availability and accessibility oftransportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, andcaregivers.
NCMM’s mission is to promote customer-centered mobility strategies
that advance good health, economic vitality, self-sufficiency, andcommunity.
National RTAP’s mission is to address the training and technicalassistance needs of rural and tribal transit operators across thenation, and support state RTAP programs.
N-CATT’s mission is to translate emerging transportation
technologies for states and localities across the United States.

TA center websites:•National Aging and Disability Transportation Center •National Rural Transit Assistance Program•

National Center for Mobility Management

National Center for Applied Technology

CoordinatingCouncilon Accessand Mobility
Coordinating
Councilon Accessand Mobility•

Federal Transit
Administration
Maribell Perez
Region IVFTA Region IV OfficeAtlanta, GA
Maribell Pérez
Transportation ProgramSpecialist

Regional Operations
Dr.Yvette G.Taylor
Regional Administrator
Dudley Whyte
Deputy Regional Administrator•Areas Served– Alabama– Florida– Georgia– Kentucky– Mississippi– North Carolina– South Carolina– Tennessee– Puerto Rico
– US Virgin Islands

TRO4 MISSION
Our mission is to improve public
transportation for America’s
communities by administeringfederal funding and providing
technical assistance to support avariety of locally planned,constructed, and operated public
transportation systems throughout
the Southeastern Region.

Region IV Portfolio
Recipients & Awards••••

Serve 180 recipients
Active awards 1,797
FFY20 Awarded 483 grants
Total Funds obligated $3.6
Billions, including $2.2 B
CARES

Oversight Activities• Planning Certification
Reviews (Transportation
Management Areas): 13 peryear• Approximately 53 triennial
reviews by year
• Specialized Reviews by year 7• Number of Urbanized
Areas12226

Contact Information
Maribell Pérez
Transportation Program Specialistmaribell.perez@dot.gov(787) 771-2528

Robert SachninCommunity Plannerrobert.sachnin@dot.gov(404) 865-5606

https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/regional-offices/region-4/region-4

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Manatee CountyArea Transit(MCAT)
Jonathan Roberson,AICPManatee County Area Transit(MCAT) Partnerships
FTA-HUD Partnership Webinar
June 10, 2021

MCAT Overview
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Division of Manatee County Government (MCG).
• 142 total employees.
• No privatized service contracts.
Service Area: Manatee County• Located between Tampa Bay and Sarasota.
• Includes regional service to Sarasota andPinellas Counties.
Operates seventeen (17) Fixed Routes.
Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) and Shuttle services
provided.
Provides door-to-door service for Transportation
Disadvantaged (TD) and Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) passengers.
Annual ridership of 1.2 million (FY 2019).
Full service reinstated August 2020, full fares
reinstated in December 2020.
Ridership returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Vaccine Trips Provided in Early 2021 and Transition
MCAT Vaccine Trip Provision Highlights:• Partnership with County EOC & 311 Call
Center for vaccines at two (2) Manatee
County-sponsored sites.
• Once customer is confirmed with Countyvaccine sign-up, 311 transfer’s them to MCAT
Call Center and both trips are scheduled.
• Trips are free to the customer.

•Total clients to date: 131, total trips 459:
• January - 8 trips• February - 34 trips• March - 198 trips• April - 219 trips• May – Vaccine provision at Manatee
Co.-sponsored sites ends.
• Vaccines now common at commercial
facilities (such as CVS, Walmart,Walgreens, etc.).
• It is unclear if there will be as muchdemand for MCAT to provide thesetrips, but coordination will continue.

MCAT Food Program Assistance
MCAT Food Program Highlights:• Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, MCAT“Team” Members have helping to deliver food incoordination with a handful of local food banks andManatee County’s Neighborhood Services
Department.
• MCAT worked to deliver an estimated 1,500 meals
each week at the height of the pandemic.
• MCAT now assists a local food pantry in transporting
multiple pallets of food from the Meals on Wheels
warehouse to their location. MCAT sends a lift-gate
truck to pick up and deliver the pallets, and also helps
staff break down and unload each pallet at the pantry.
The pantry stated they were feeding up over 90
families daily. This effort is done weekly by MCAT.
• MCAT is making regular trips to another pantry with apallet jack to unload semi-truck regular fooddeliveries.
• MCAT picked up and distributed “surplus” food at therequest of Del Monte (at Port Manatee) early in thepandemic. Food was distributed to local pantries andchurches.
•Inclusive Manatee Initiative••

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•

•

•

Inclusive Manatee is a coordinated, multi-year “Team”effort focused on connecting Manatee County’s
Southwest District residents to jobs and embracing
equitable approaches to community involvement anddecision- making, particularly for disadvantaged
residents in the Samoset neighborhood.
Goals of program are to:• Connect Samoset residents to jobs
• Decrease unemployment by 1.5% over 3 years.
• Increase household income over 3 years.
County “Team” includes staff from Redevelopment &Economic Opportunity (REO), Neighborhood Services,and MCAT.
Nonprofit partners include; Whole Child Manatee, Step
Up Suncoast, CareerSource Suncoast, United Way
Suncoast, Samoset Neighborhood Association, andUnidos Now.
Results = Enhancing Samoset Neighborhood
Transportation Study completed in 2020.

Inclusive Manatee Initiative – Enhancing Samoset
Neighborhood Transportation••

2020 study identified unmet transportation needs in the Samosetneighborhood by examining:o Work/school/day care origin/destination trips.
o Input from residents and community groups on unmet
employment job access/transportation needs oropportunities.
o Identification and prioritization of most impactful public
transportation needs.
Recommended Transportation Enhancements (MCAT’s Role):• 30-minute service enhancement on MCAT Rt. 2.
• Expand MCAT Travel Training program in Samoset
community.
• Future MOD service that provides trips to Samoset day carecenters and MCAT’s transfer centers.
Other Inclusive Manatee (Multiagency) Programs that Benefit
Samoset Residents:• One-on-one career coaching (multiple agencies)• Connect residents to local employers (multiple agencies)• Childcare assistance (Day Care Pilot Program)• Rental/housing assistance (Manatee County)
Funding Challenges:• MCAT has requested County funding to fund new service inFY 2022 or 2023.
•••

Mobility-On-Demand for Job Access: Port ManateeConneXion Shuttle••••••••

Mobility On-Demand (MOD) shuttle service forthose who work in the Port Manatee area, a majoremployer in the region.
Connects Port Manatee with MCAT’s Palmetto
Station (MCAT Route’s 1,13,201,203) and Palmetto
Wal-Mart.
Service will operate Monday-Saturday.
The goal of the service is to ensure Port workers(such as stevedores/ day labor) have transportation
options, especially for the work shift beginning in
the a.m. (5:30-7:30) and ending in the p.m. (4:006:00) afternoon.
Project will be a demonstration to gauge long-term
interest and demand from Port tenants andpotentially other major employers in and aroundthe Port.
If successful and demonstrates sustainable ridershiplevels, service could become a permanent fixedroute.
Key Challenge: Building and maintaining
connections among private sector, education, job
training, and other community partners to best alignresidents with Port-area employment opportunities.

:2021
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Junestarervi
sfotce.

Other 2021 MCAT Efforts : Summer Youth Bus Pass.
Program
1, 2021enuJted••star
ProgramMCAT Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Program
WHAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION DISDVANTAGE PROGRAM?

A discretionary program which provides transportation assistance to those in the community
who, because of low-income status, cannot afford transportation services.

•Ongoing funding partnership between the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged(FCTD) and Manatee County Government (MCG).
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISDVANTAGE PROGRAM?
• Manatee County residents meeting the 2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines/Level (1/13/21) of 200%.
WHAT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS?
• Regular MCAT (Fixed Route) service.
• Handy Bus door-to-door services if they cannot access Fixed Route bus service.
HOW DOES A PERSON UTILIZE THE TD BUS PROGRAM?
• Complete the TD application form and provide the required household income,residency, travel information, and supporting documentation. Two-week review
period.
• Provide a $15 check or money order before the 15th of each month.
• Pick up pass at designated Transit Station (Downtown Bradenton or DeSoto).
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TD BUS PROGRAM?
• $15 for unlimited rides on Fixed Route or Handy Bus services for 31 days. Regular Monthly pass is $40.
• The TD Pass provides independence and freedom for the traveler, especially those transitioning to suchmobility options.
• A Travel Trainer is available to guide each rider on how to use the system.
••MCAT Travel Training Program
WHAT IS TRAVEL TRAINING?
• A tailored, personalized instruction on how to use the Fixed Route bus system.
• Customized to meet an individual’s specific needs.
WHAT ARE THE INTITIAL TRAVEL TRAINING STEPS?
• The Travel Trainer will meet you at your home, conduct a travel needs assessment, and craft a personal plan.
• The Travel Trainer will accompany client on the bus and remain throughout the travel experience.
WHAT WILL AN INDIVIDUAL LEARN DURING TRAVEL TRAINING?
• Understanding of MCAT (Fixed Route) Service Area, Route Maps, Route Schedules, and new Technologies.
• How to plan bus trips and ride the necessary bus routes.
• How to pay fares and purchase bus passes, including “cashless” Mobile Ticketing option Token Transit.
• Prepare for “what-ifs” and other concerns.
• Develop the skills necessary to independently ride the bus with confidence.
WHY IS TRAVEL TRAINING IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY?
• Independence, Accessibility, Affordability, and Customer-Focused
TRAVEL TRAINER PARTNERS• MCAT’s Travel Trainer has received numerous client referrals from the FL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation,CareerSource Suncoast, Crosswalk, and Easter Seals.
HOW DOES A CLIENT, FAMILY MEMBER, OR CARETAKER INQUIRE ABOUT TRAVEL TRAINING?
• Call (941) 747-8621 (ext. 7633), Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., to schedule an appointment.
WORKING WITH PARTNER AGENCIES• Travel Trainer works with partner agencies such as Easter Seals, Florida Vocational
Rehabilitation, CareerSource Suncoast, Centerstone, and the Suncoast Partnership toEnd Homelessness to identify and assist clients.
•Closing Thoughts on Public Transportation
Partnerships

1. FTA-funded transit agencies can best assist communities by increasing service
frequency and coverage, providing equitable fare programs, enabling transportation
independence, and pivoting to other community needs (vaccine trips, food bankdeliveries, day care trips).
2. Multi-agency Partnerships (such as Inclusive Manatee) critical to linking residents toall opportunities in a community.
3. Ensure that the Inclusive Manatee approach is portable to other economicallydistressed communities in Manatee County and elsewhere.
4. There are public transportation partnership opportunities in any region, especiallythose that house a HUD EnVision Center.
•Contact Details:
Jonathan Roberson, AICPTransit Section Planning Manager
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT)
Ph.: (941) 747-8621, ext. 7622
jonathan.roberson@mymanatee.org

OU!
YKNATHWho We Are

nc4mm.org

A national technicalassistance center fundedthrough a cooperativeagreement with the FederalTransit Administration andoperated through aconsortium of three nationalorganizations

Our Mission

To promote customer-centeredmobility strategies that advance
good health, economic vitality, selfsufficiency, and community.
We work to promote cross-sector
partnerships and help communities
create/improve transportation
options – “mobility management”

Mobility Management isabout creating communityconnections• A well-connected and diverse
transportation system is the key tocommunity-wide mobility.
• It begins and ends with the customer,rider, or client.
• We encourage communities' visions inwhich the entire transportation networkworks together.
• Deliver the transportation options thatbest meet the community's needs.

Access NCMM Resources• Research products and tools• Our blog, Mobility Lines• Participate in our events• Share our online e-Learning
modules• Take advantage of our grant
programs• Encourage your MM colleagues tojoin MMC• Connect with your regional liaison

MEME

MN
WI

MIIL IN

OH

Judy Shanley, PhD,
Easterseals Director NCMM, Asst.
VP for Education and Youth
Transition at Easterseals
https://nationalcenterformobility
management.org/about-us/whowe-are/

NCMM Regional Liaison – Corresponding to FTA Regional Offices
1 (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island)
5 (Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)NEKSIAMOKYTNMS ALGA

NC
SCFL

Brandon Roccio,TA Specialist, National Center for
Mobility Management at
Easterseals
https://nationalcenterformobility
management.org/about-us/whowe-are/

NCMM Regional Liaison – Corresponding to FTA Regional Offices
4 (Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina)
7 (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas)

Coordination benefits• Lowered trip costs for travel and for human service agencies;• Shared funding;• Extended service hours, services to new areas or new communities and tomore people;• More trips made by persons needing transportation;• Services more responsive to schedules, points of origin, and destinations ofcustomers;• Greater emphasis on safety and customer service;• More door-to-door service;• More flexible payment and service options; and• Enhanced relationships with non-traditional partners.

Next Steps• Identify either the HUD or Mobility Management contacts
in your community• Share these resources and examples with them to affirm
potential activities• Contact your NCMM Regional Liaison (Region 5-Judy) and(Region 7-Brandon)• Learn about grant programs offered through NCMM andother FTA TA Centers• Sign up for newsletters from NCMM and other TA Centers
to learn about funding and grant programs https://nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org/newslet
ter-archives/

Questions?
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Thank You!
We’re here to help!
Contacts:
Judy Shanley
Jshanley@easterseals.com
Brandon Roccio
Broccio@easterseals.com