Better living through better transit.
Our Work
Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Planning
Per the Federal Transit Administration, transit law requires that projects selected for funding under the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) Program be "included in a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan," and that the plan be "developed and approved through a process that included participation by seniors, individuals with disabilities, representatives of public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human services providers and other members of the public" utilizing transportation services. Our team has 20 years of experience preparing coordinated plans and updating coordinated plans to clearly identify the transportation needs of politically and socially marginalized populations.
Mobility Management
Often an implementation project from coordinated planning, mobility management programs seek to identify gaps and barriers to public transportation that prevent individuals from using existing services. Once gaps have been uncovered, Mobility Managers work with partners from the transportation and human service communities to find creative solutions, creating a “one-stop shop” where people can find transportation service that meets their needs.
Rural Transit Planning & Transit Development Plans
Transit development plans serve a variety of purposes and can be a way for transit operators to improve efficiency and effectiveness through needs identification and resource requirements. These analyses can help shape recommendations for modifying and enhancing services provided in each community, county, or region.
Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement
Engagement is inherent in every project we take on. In some instances, we are asked to take on projects that are solely public outreach and engagement. The purpose of engagement is to inform, educate, share analyses, and gather feedback. Our team has decades of experience in public outreach, building engagement plans and toolkits, and public policies. Additionally, we specialize in inclusive community engagement. Inclusive engagement ensures a focus on communities and populations that may be politically and socially marginalized: multicultural, low-income, those with a disability, older adults, Veterans, and tribal nations.
Policy Development
Policy is an integral part of transit planning, funding, and development. State governments and assemblies, municipal governments, and the Federal Transit Administration all have influence over day-to-day transit operations through legislation and policy development. We have worked in the development of new transit legislation at the state and federal levels and are familiar working with transit agencies to influence change over local and state transportation polices.
Funding for Transit
Public transportation is funded through a variety of means. Agencies may use a combination of federal, state, and local funding for operations, as well as fares, grant funds, and revenue from non-emergency medical transportation services. Understanding how transit funding works and what options may be available for new projects is critical to financial sustainability.
Decennial Census Impact on Transit Funding and Providers
Population projections are integral to planning for any area. Projections may be made at all levels—including state, region, county, and city—with the latter typically made on a ten-year horizon. The FTA uses U.S. decennial census data to determine rural and urbanized area (UZA) designations, which are then used to help determine transit funding apportionments throughout the nation. Our team specializes in helping agencies transition between census designations that fund transit: rural to small urban, small urban to large urban, and all manner of transitions that result from the impacts of a decennial census.
Public Information Management
Our team specializes in public information management for state and municipal projects. We understand the importance of communicating information in a timely fashion, especially when local communities want to know the status and timelines of a local construction project. We work closely with engineers, contractors, municipalities, and chambers of commerce to communicate information updates and project status.
Stakeholder Meeting Facilitation
Whether a project is politically charged or not, agencies often find it helpful to have an outside facilitator assist with planning discussions. Whether it’s transit leadership, boards of directors, or advisory committees, our team has fifteen years of experience facilitating discussions, and we excel in facilitating groups that are highly charged, helping them come to common goals and decisions for their projects and plans.