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, 2022, THERE WERE FIFTEEN VANS IN THE VANPOOL PROGRAM. IN FY 2022, 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 3 COUNTIES AND 46 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.VAN ROUTES ARE SLOWLY COMING BACK FROM THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN, THERE WERE 14 ROUTES. 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, 2022 SHOW A TOTAL OF 727,621 VEHICLE TRIPS SAVED; 313,868,208 MILES NOT TRAVELED AND 1,302.86 TONS OF REDUCTION IN VEHICLE EMISSIONS. MRTMA CONTINUES TO UTILIZE WITH YELLOW CAB COMPANY, UBER, LYFT, BITTERROOT BUS, HUCKLEBERRY EXPRESS 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. THE CAB 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 2021-2022 STAFF HAS ASSISTED THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING AND MISSION MOUNTAIN ENTERPRISES IN SECURING 5310 CAPITAL ASSISTANCE, 5311 OPERATING ASSISTANCE AND TRANSADE FUNDING FROM THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. STAFF HAS ALSO ASSISTED IN SECURING COORDINATION AGREEMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLANS WITH MANY AREA PROVIDERS. STAFF CONTINUES TO MEET WITH TRIBAL MEMBERS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FACILITATE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM. 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.MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE RAVALLI COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY 2022 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 1,646 VEHICLE TRIPS AND 47,838 ACCUMULATED MILES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2022. DURING THE PERIOD THE VALLEY VETERANS SERVICE CENTER HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO RAVALLI COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE CENTER. THE NEW VA MEDICAL CLINIC HAS ALSO OPENED IN MISSOULA, WHICH SHOULD ELIMINATE SOME TRIPS TO THE VA HOSPITAL IN HELENA.MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE SANDERS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY 2022 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 COA BOARD. MRTMA STAFF SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE MINERAL COUNTY PIONEER COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING FY2022 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. 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. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON DC AUGUST 24-25. 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 TECHNOLOGYFEDERAL OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH POLICY: BUILDING HEALTHIER RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP & PERSEVERANCE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM TCRP PROJECT B-47 MOBILITY INCLUSION FOR UN(DER)SERVED POPULATIONS WITH THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. PANEL.NCHRP B08-131 ACCESS TO JOBS, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS AND B08-130 BEST PRACTICES IN COORDINATION OF RURAL TRANSIT AND RIDE SHARING.THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SUBMITTED TWO PROBLEM STATEMENTS TO TCRP FY2023 PROJECTS: GUIDEBOOK FOR PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING A SMALL RURAL AND TRIBAL TRANSIT FACILITY AND EVALUATING VEHICLE PROPULSION SYSTEMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN SMALL URBAN AND RURAL SYSTEMS.THE 2022 MTA SPRING CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN BILLINGS, JUNE 13-15TH. THE HOST HOTEL WAS THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTON. THE CONFERENCE AND VENDOR EXPO WAS ATTENDED BY 45 PARTICIPANTS, 3 PRESENTERS AND 22 VENDORS. THE PASS TRAINING SESSION DREW 12 PARTICIPANTS; Q'STRAINT WORKSHOPS DREW 8 PARTICIPANTS, FOR A TOTAL OF 90. THE NETWORKING EVENT WAS A MURDER PARTY 80S PROM GONE WRONG HOSTED BY HARLOWS BUS SALES, HANOVER DISPLAYS AND DAVEY COACH. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM HANOVER DISPLAYS SUPPLIED THE MUSIC AND HELD A KARAOKE EVENT AFTER THE MURDER WAS SOLVED THE AWARDS BANQUET BAR WAS HOSTED BY DAVEY COACH.A SPEAKER FROM THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA WAS HIRED TO PRESENT THE CERTIFIED COMMUNITY TRANSIT SUPERVISOR PROGRAM. THE MTA STATE BUS ROADEO IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 IN GREAT FALLS. THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. MRTMA STAFF SERVES ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: LAKE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CHAIR), RAVALLI COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (VICE CHAIR), SANDERS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CHAIR); SANDERS COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING (CHAIR); MINERAL COUNTY PIONEER COUNCIL (CHAIR); MISSOULA TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE