Missoula Ravalli Transportation Management Asssociation Inc

TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION

THE FIRST MISSOULA RAVALLI TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (MRTMA) VANPOOL BEGAN OPERATING BETWEEN HAMILTON AND MISSOULA ON AUGUST 11, 1997. THE INITIAL RIDERSHIP CONSISTED OF 4-6 DAILY COMMUTERS, AND 2-3 OCCASIONAL RIDERS. DURING THE COURSE OF THE FIRST WEEK OF OPERATION, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS RIDING CONTINUED TO INCREASE. BY THE END OF THE SECOND WEEK OF OPERATION, THERE WERE 11 CONSISTENT COMMUTERS.AS OF JUNE 30, 2023, THERE WERE SEVENTEEN VANS IN THE VANPOOL PROGRAM. IN FY 2023, THE VANPOOL PROGRAM SERVED COMMUTERS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE MISSOULA URBAN AREA, AS WELL AS MISSOULA RESIDENTS WORKING IN OUTLYING COUNTIES. THE VANPOOLS NOW SERVE COMMUNITIES IN 4 COUNTIES AND 15 DIFFERENT WORK SITES. THE VANPOOL PARTICIPANTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM BY COVERING THE WEEKLY GAS COSTS AND A PORTION OF THE INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS. THE VALUE OF THIS PROGRAM IS EVIDENT BY THE COORDINATION AND COOPERATION OF THE RIDERS OF THE VARIOUS VANPOOLS.CARPOOL ACTIVITIES CONTINUE TO SUPPLEMENT THE VANPOOL PROGRAM. THE RIDESHARE PROGRAM, WHICH MATCHES COMMUTERS WITH SIMILAR HOME AND WORK PICKUP AND DROP OFF POINTS WITHIN A CERTAIN AREA IS CONTINUALLY BEING OFFERED TO THOSE COMMUTERS UNABLE TO UTILIZED THE VANPOOL SERVICE. THIS SERVICE CONTINUES TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR THOSE COMMUTERS THAT MIGHT HAVE NON-TRADITIONAL WORK SCHEDULES OR WORK IN AN AREA OF MISSOULA THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING SERVED BY THE VANPOOL OR LOCAL TRANSIT SYSTEM. COMMUTERS RECEIVE A LIST OF POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO SOLICIT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON THE LIST TO FORM A CARPOOL. COMBINED STATISTICS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CARPOOL AND VANPOOL PROGRAMS IN 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023 SHOW A TOTAL OF 736,608 VEHICLE TRIPS SAVED; 315,048,876 MILES NOT TRAVELED AND 1,318.09 OF REDUCTION IN VEHICLE EMISSIONS. MRTMA CONTINUES TO UTILIZE UBER, LYFT, BITTERROOT BUS, HUCKLEBERRY EXPRESS TAXI, BITTERROOT VALLEY TAXI, POLSON TAXI AND CSKT TRIBAL TRANSIT TO PROVIDE A GUARANTEED RIDE HOME SERVICE TO ALL OF MRTMAS REGISTERED CARPOOLERS AND VANPOOLERS. IF AN EMERGENCY ARISES AND THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS A RIDE HOME AND DOESNT HAVE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE, THEY SIMPLY CALL A CAB OR UBER. THE DRIVER WILL PICK THE PERSON UP AT THEIR EMPLOYMENT SITE AND DRIVES THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE PARK-AND-RIDE LOT. RIDERS ARE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE RIDE, AS LONG AS THEY ARE REGISTERED WITH MRTMA WITHIN THE CARPOOL AND VANPOOL PROGRAMS.PARK AND RIDE SITES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AT VARIOUS STOPS ALONG THE VANPOOL ROUTES EXTENDING TO THE RURAL AREAS WEST AND NORTH OF MISSOULA.BEFORE ORIGINATING A NEW VANPOOL, MRTMA STAFF TRAVELS THE ROUTE TO DETERMINE THE BEST AND SAFEST PLACES TO IMPLEMENT THESE PARKING AREAS FOR COMMUTERS. BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE CONTACTED ABOUT ASSISTING IN ESTABLISHING THESE PARK AND RIDE LOCATIONS. ALL PEOPLE CONTACTED HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE VANPOOL SERVICE AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE AGREED TO JOIN IN THE EFFORT BY ALLOWING THE USE OF PART OF THEIR PARKING AREAS. LETTERS ARE THEN SENT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL TO CONFIRM AND DOCUMENT THE VERBAL AGREEMENT MADE BY BOTH PARTIES IN ESTABLISHING THESE AREAS FOR THIS SPECIFIC USE.MRTMA CURRENTLY HAS 28 ESTABLISHED PARK-AND-RIDE LOCATIONS. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE LAKE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 STAFF HAS ASSISTED THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING AND MISSION MOUNTAIN ENTERPRISES IN COMPLETING NECESSARY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR THEIR 5310 CAPITAL ASSISTANCE, 5311 OPERATING ASSISTANCE AND TRANSADE FUNDING FROM THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANTS. STAFF HAS ALSO ASSISTED IN SECURING COORDINATION AGREEMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLANS WITH MANY AREA PROVIDERS. STAFF CONTINUES TO ADMINISTER AN EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION VOUCHER PROGRAM THROUGH THE LAKE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES BUS PASSES OR GAS VOUCHERS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS NEEDING NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, JOB INTERVIEWS OR BUS PASSES FOR CRIME VICTIMS. IT ALSO WILL PROVIDE A ONE-MONTH BUS PASS TO INDIVIDUALS UPON HIRE. SINCE INCEPTION THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED 868 RIDES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO OPERATE 7 VANPOOL ROUTES FOR WORKERS EMPLOYED AT DESIGNS FOR HEALTH, THE MAJOR EMPLOYER IN ARLEE. STAFF CONTINUES TO ASSIST ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO START VANPOOLS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE RAVALLI COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY 2023 STAFF PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BITTERROOT BUS AND ASSISTED IN DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLAN. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE VALLEY VETERANS SERVICE CENTER. STAFF CONTINUES TO ASSIST THE VALLEY VETERANS SERVICE CENTER IN HAMILTON WITH TRANSPORTATION AND GRANT ASSISTANCE. MANY OF THE VETERANS CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE USING DAV AND VTS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. MRTMA IS PROVIDING ONE MINIVAN AND LIFT-EQUIPPED VAN FOR CLIENT TRIPS TO MISSOULA AND HELENA, AS WELL AS, RIDES TO SERVICES DAV CANNOT PROVIDE DUE TO VA POLICIES. STATISTICS SINCE INCEPTION OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN JULY 2016 SHOW A TOTAL OF 1,687 VEHICLE TRIPS AND 50,594 ACCUMULATED MILES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023. DURING THE PERIOD THE VALLEY VETERANS SERVICE CENTER HAS BEGUN TRANSPORTING VETERANS WHO NEED DIALYSIS TO THE CLINICS IN MISSOULA. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE SANDERS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY 2023 STAFF PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SANDERS COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. DURING THE PERIOD MRTMA STAFF WAS ELECTED TO SERVICE AS CHAIR ON THE SANDERS COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING BOARD AND TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE MINERAL COUNTY PIONEER COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY2023 STAFF PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COUNCIL'S VOLUNTEER BOARD. STAFF ASSISTED THE PIONEER COUNCIL IN SECURING A CARES ACT GRANT TO BUILD A TRANSIT FACILITY IN SUPERIOR. STAFF SECURED A LAND LEASE, $1 FOR 40 YEARS, FOR COUNTY OWNED LAND TO BUILD THE FACILITY. DUE TO DELAYS BY MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE TRANSIT FACILITY HAS NOT YET STARTED, BUT HAS CARES ACT FUNDING OBLIGATED FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION. MRTMA STAFF ASSISTED THE SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN PROVIDING OPERATING FUNDING FOR THE I RIDE SEELEY LAKE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. MRTMA STAFF IS STILL PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE FOUNDATION. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS ASKED TO CHAIR THE TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM SCREENING PANELS 1 & 2. A VIRTUAL MEETING TOOK PLACE AUGUST 10TH. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REVIEWED THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES:NCHRP 20-65 TASK 82: ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING CUSTOMIZED, CLIENT-BASED TRANSPORTATION SERVICESNCHRP 20-65 TASK 81: BEST PRACTICES IN RURAL TRANSIT ASSESSMENT GUIDEBOOK. TCRP SYNTHESIS SH-23/J-07: PARTNERSHIPS FOR EQUITABLE PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERYTHE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING VIRTUAL MEETINGS:NCHRP 20-102(20) PREPARING THE TRANSPORTATION WORKFORCE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGYNCHRP 20-144 BEST PRACTICES IN DETERMINING RURAL TRANSIT FLEET SIZE HOW TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF RURAL RIDERSHIPTCRP PROJECT B-47 MOBILITY INCLUSION FOR UN(DER)SERVED POPULATIONS WITH THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. PANEL.TCRP D-23 GUIDEBOOK FOR PLANNING & CONSTRUCTING A SMALL RURAL & TRIBAL TRANSIT FACILITYMONTANA TRANSIT ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP STANDS AT 89 AS OF JUNE 30, 2023.THE 2023 MTA SPRING CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN MISSOULA MAY 15-19TH AT THE HILTON GARDEN INN. THE CONFERENCE AND VENDOR EXPO WAS ATTENDED BY 48 PARTICIPANTS, 2 PRESENTERS AND 18 VENDORS. THE PASS TRAINING SESSION DREW 12 PARTICIPANTS; FOR A TOTAL OF 80. THE NETWORKING EVENT WAS A CARNIVAL BY HARLOWS BUS SALES AND DAVEY COACH. THE AWARDS BANQUET BAR WAS HOSTED BY DAVEY COACH.SPEAKERS FROM RLS WERE HIRED TO PRESENT THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. FALL BUSINESS MEETING WAS HELD IN GREAT FALLS ON SEPTEMBER 9TH. THERE WERE 17 TRANSIT MANAGERS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETING. DISCUSSIONS INCLUDED PLANNING FOR THE SPRING CONFERENCE AND STATE BUS ROADEO, DELAY IN RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENTS, LACK OF CONTRACTS, SUPPLY CHAIN IMPACTS ON SECURING VEHICLES, PROPOSED 2023 LEGISLATION AND GENERAL PROBLEMS IN WORKING WITH MDT STAFF. STAFF ORGANIZED THE BUS ROADEO WHICH WAS HELD IN GREAT FALLS ON SEPTEMBER 10TH. GREAT FALLS STAFF DESIGNED AND SET-UP THE OBSTACLE COURSE. THE ROADEO WAS HELD AT THE FAIRGROUNDS WITH THE HOST HOTEL BEING THE HAMPTON INN. MONTE CARLO NIGHT WAS HELD AT THE HAMPTON INN WITH 49 PEOPLE PARTICIPATING. DAVEY COACH WAS THE SPONSOR. THE AWARDS BANQUET AND LIVE AUCTION WERE HELD AT THE PADDOCK CLUB. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF SIX DRIVERS PARTICIPATING IN THE DIVISION 1 COMPETITION AND SEVENTEEN FOR THE DIVISION 2 COMPETITION. THERE WERE 31 JUDGES FOR A TOTAL