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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Coordination Committee - Minutes - 1/20/20211 BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING 1/20/2021 3:30 - 5:00 PM Committee Members Present: Jeremy Oswald, Mary Dougherty, Samantha Ray, Carla Becker, Carrie Linder, Committee Members Excused: Beth Probst, Carol Salminen, Perri Shuga Committee Member Absent: Jeff Benton Staff Present: Mark Ables-Allison, Elizabeth Skulan, Jenise Swartley Other Present: Pat Daoust, Shari Nutt 1. Call to Order and Introductions Mary Dougherty called the meeting to order at 3:36 PM. 2. Discussion and Possible Action - Review of the November 4th, 2020 Meeting Minutes Motion by Jeremy, second by Carla to approve the minutes, motion carried. 3. Program Presentation - Mobility Management Program, BART Mobility Manager Shari Nutt Shari Nutt discussed her role as Mobility Manager, and the common transportation barriers and needs she encounters. The mobility manager’s responsibilities include: ● talking through transportation options with riders and making a transportation plan with them ● riding with passengers during their first ride as requested to increase comfort level ● working with people with disabilities to address their access needs. Municipalities, the BRICK, schools, and health clinics often refer people to her. She oversees seven counties. She uses the Center for Independent Living’s resource list to locate transportation services for people. Transportation barriers and needs she often witnesses include: ● a lack of awareness the County's volunteer driver program exists--could the program accommodate more people if it was more widely known? ● If they don’t qualify for Medicaid but are low-income or if a bus option is not available for their transportation needs, it is difficult for them to afford transportation. ● She receives a lot of calls for transportation from Ashland and Bayfield Counties to Hayward. ● With COVID, there’s no place to sit inside to wait for the bus. ● Vaccine rollout - how to vaccinate people who do not have transportation. Also discussed was the possibility of an Uber type service; could the county create its own? It is a potential economic development opportunity; could Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation be a partner? Approved at 2/17/2021 TCC meeting 2 4. 5-year Transportation Coordination Plan - Review of plan and the goals/activities worksheet Carrie Linder reviewed the takeaways of the plan. Education and marketing works when Carrie has the time to do it. Carrie doesn’t know if we could handle more requests through the volunteer driver program unless we also recruit new volunteer drivers as a part of the marketing and education campaign. Except for a few clinics, healthcare providers are not attuned to the transportation needs of their clients. We have not been able to talk with larger employers about their employees' transportation needs. Grant funding through the state has been reduced throughout the years; Pat Daoust says more funding opportunities have become available recently, and we’ll see what is available in the future. 7. 2018 Bayfield Transportation Survey Results - Revisit findings Agenda item was skipped due to lack of time. 8. Discuss next action steps 1. Carla Becker of Bay Mobility will present her story and perspective as a private transportation provider during the February meeting. 2. During the February meeting, continue to review committee’s goals and the goals of the five- year plan to hone in on what needs to be carried out through the committee. 3. Invite North Country Independent Living and/or Western Wisconsin Center for Independent Living to speak about the voucher program during the March meeting. Future Meeting Date February 17th 3:30 - 4:30 March 17th 3:30 - 4:30 Adjournment Motion by Jeremy, second by Carrie to adjourn at 4:55, motion carried. Minutes respectfully submitted by Jenise Swartley.