Title

Coordinated accessible transportation: a vision for the CRD

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2005

Subject Area

Modes of Transport - Community Transport - Community vehicle, Population - Ageing of the Population, Population - Seniors, Transport programs - Transport coordination

Abstract

This report is a follow-up of a 2003 report focusing on the state of accessible transportation in the Capital Region District (CRD) and explores the relevance of a coordinated accessible transportation system in the context of the CRD. In doing so, it describes existing coordinated transportation models and focuses on a model fitting the needs and the resources of the CRD. Coordinated accessible transportation entails the sharing of transportation resources within a community to better meet the needs of a growing senior population. The implementation of a coordinated transportation system is a step by step process which necessitates commitment and openness to change from both transportation providers and users. Coordination is both cost effective and maximizes community transport resources. Increasing transportation availability has the potential to improve mobility and thus the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities. Coordinated accessible transportation can take the form of a) Information and referral network; b) Joint use arrangements (e.g. sharing of vehicles or c) Consolidation. The latter being the most complex form of coordination because it necessitates the creating of a single transportation system. This new organization will undertake the services such as registration, scheduling, trips supplies etc, usually provided by different agencies in a community. The poor response rate for the questionnaire survey included in this research indicates that the transportation providers in the CRD may still be hesitant to participate to transportation coordination. However, there are already examples of cooperation between agencies in the community, and this trend shows that transportation providers are willing to move towards coordination. In eventual implementation of a coordinated transportation system, two options seem appropriate: a) building on existing projects and b) the creation of a new organization, which not only will be beneficial in providing a single point of entry of all transportation related activities in the CRD, but also will be an approach new in Canada. However, this option is a major change from the existing system and requires a financial investment and a commitment from local government and transportation providers difficult to achieve. In both cases, the hiring of a community transportation coordinator seems the necessary first step. This position is essential to the implementation of a new transportation system. Coordinated accessible transportation can start at a small scale and grow to a community wide system involving all stakeholders in accessible transportation.