Webinar: Shared Mobility for People with Disabilities — Challenges and Opportunities for Paratransit, 2017

Webinar Overview

Credit Cowlitz Indian Tribe

 

The webinar brought together leading public-sector experts to discuss new approaches transit agencies are exploring to increase flexibility and responsiveness of paratransit services for users while reducing costs and complying with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

This public webinar was part of the Federal Transit Administration-supported Mobility-On Demand (MOD) Sandbox Information Knowledge Accelerator (IKA), aimed at supporting current and future MOD projects.

The Mobility on Demand Innovation and Knowledge Accelerator is operated as a cooperative agreement between the Shared-Use Mobility Center and the Federal Transit Administration Mobility On Demand Sandbox project.

The Webinar Recording & Presentations are Available for Download Here:

Download the Presentations without Audio

View Webinar Recording

Webinar Details

Welcome & Overview of Mobility On Demand (MOD) & Accessibility Considerations

·  Sharon Feigon, Executive Director, Shared-Use  Mobility Center

Sharon moderated the webinar and offered an introduction to ways different MOD strategies and can be used to serve persons with disabilities.

Vision for Shared Mobility and an Integrated Transportation Network

·  Gwo-Wei Torng, Director, Office of Mobility Innovation at FTA

Gwo-Wei offered a vision for how MOD can be used to create a more integrated transportation system, with special attention to serving persons with disabilities and the use of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV).

 Working within the Rules & Regulations:  ADA and Paratransit Requirements

·  Bonnie Graves, Attorney-Advisor at Federal Transit Administration

Bonnie discussed the regulatory framework around ADA & Paratransit and how the ADA applies to MOD.

 The Ride On Demand: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) On-Demand Pilot Project

·  Ben Schutzman, Director of Paratransit, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Ben discussed The Ride On Demand pilot project, which is aimed at serving persons with disabilities through a partnership with Uber and Lyft. Ben covered the details of the pilot project including contract negotiations, data sharing and lessons learned as well as how these partnerships have been used to offer additional transportation options for persons with disabilities.

See link for SUMC analysis on the The Ride On Demand Pilot Project

 RideKC Freedom, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) Pilot Project

·  Jameson Auten, Chief, Regional Service Delivery & Innovation, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

Jameson discussed the RideKC Freedom pilot project, which provides a multi-modal platform to offer increased transportation options for persons with disabilities. Jameson also covered the process involved to take this project from early design to implementation, discussing such topics as procurement strategies, data collection, and the development of an integrated app.

See link for SUMC analysis on the RideKC Freedom Pilot Project

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The Mobility on Demand Innovation and Knowledge Accelerator is operated as a cooperative agreement between the Shared-Use Mobility Center and the Federal Transit Administration Mobility On Demand Sandbox project.