Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan

Since 2007, as part of the planning process, MAG has developed the Human Services Coordination Transportation Plan. The Plan, as required under federal law, is consistent with established federal rules required for projects selected for funding under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310, and is updated to include new stakeholders, eligibility, and updated legislative requirements. The federal legislation also requires applicants who receive federal funding to comply and coordinate with a locally derived human services transportation plan. Each plan is federally required to include an inventory of services, gaps analysis and prioritized strategies to meet the needs of the region.

The Plan will evaluate existing and future unmet transportation needs of the populations covered under the Section 5310 program, develop an updated provider inventory, and establish short- and long-term strategies to better serve the region including review and recommendations for the Transportation Ambassador Program (TAP) and utilization of Mobility Managers. The plan will serve as the framework for the Section 5310 program and guide the region towards more accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities

The objectives are to complete an evaluation and provide recommendations for the MAG Human Services Coordination Transportation Planning process, conduct public and stakeholder engagement to identify needs and gaps in the region, and develop an updated plan and provide recommendations on methods for updating the plan on an ongoing basis. As federally required, this plan update will be developed through a process that includes representatives of nonprofit and for-profit agencies, transit providers, municipalities, faith-based and senior community representatives, and members of the general public.

The Human Services Transportation program helps coordinate strategies to assist the transportation of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities. This program helps connect people to human services transportation opportunities throughout the MAG region and provides support to qualified individuals that need transportation related assistance.

The City of Phoenix serves as the Designated Recipient (DR) for Section 5310 funding from the FTA within the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale and the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale urban areas. As the DR, the City of Phoenix is responsible for capital procurement, grant management, and federal compliance.

Valley Metro as the regional public transportation agency (RPTA), provides transportation services including regional buses, streetcar, light rail, and paratransit services to the residents of metro Phoenix. Valley Metro is a member of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Transportation (EPDT) Committee and participates in the TAP.

MAG assists subrecipients, provides an open, competitive, annual application process, programs funds, provides training for subrecipients, supports the City of Phoenix in their compliance efforts, and manages the federally required human services transportation coordination planning process.