2050 Regional Transit Plan: Public Involvement Report – Appendix C: 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting Summaries

2050 Specialized Transportation Plan – Stakeholder Advisory Committee – Meeting #1

Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MT

Overview

Mountain Metro Transit (MMT), in partnership with the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG), held its first 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Stakeholders were identified and invited based on the plan’s boundaries to represent a cross-section of specialized transportation providers, riders, and social services.

The meeting objectives were to create a common understanding of:

• Project goals and objectives
• Planning landscape and intersections
• Roles and expectations of Stakeholder Advisory Committee members
• Stakeholder engagement conducted to date and what we’ve heard
• Existing conditions
• Project schedule and major technical milestones

This document summarizes the presentation delivered and the themes shared by meeting participants. The accompanying PowerPoint presentation is available for review upon request and includes enlarged maps.

Welcome & Introductions

Jacob Matsen (MMT), Lan Rao (MMT), and Laura Crews (PPACG) welcomed stakeholders, thanking them for their participation in a very important process to guide the next 25 years of paratransit, fixed route, and specialized transportation service. They encouraged stakeholders to help the project team identify needs and gaps in the current system and create a common understanding of opportunities to create a visionary service that meets the needs of the current and future community.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West), meeting facilitator, introduced project team members, reviewed the agenda, and invited participants to introduce themselves and one goal for the Specialized Transportation Plan. Stakeholder Advisory Committee members shared the following goals:

• Build capacity to meet the rising demand.
• Coordinate across agencies and providers to enhance the client’s experience.
• Utilize other agencies to create a robust transportation system with ways to anticipate and prevent gaps.
• Include transit as a solution to affordable housing.
• Remember how important socialization is for all who ride specialized transportation.
• Incorporate emergency preparedness.
• Educate potential riders on the multiple transit options, including fixed route, paratransit, and specialized transportation.
• Explore additional funding opportunities.

Multiple committee members mentioned coordination among agencies and providers to build a more robust transportation system to meet the riders’ needs. Participants who joined virtually introduced themselves through the Zoom chat function. A table of participants is included in Appendix C-1.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) reviewed the stakeholder committee roles and clarified the stakeholder commitment for this planning process. Given the shorter planning window, stakeholders can expect two meetings over the six to nine months. The stakeholder committee accepted their role and agreed to have the committee roster posted to the website.

Project Overview

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) introduced the Specialized Transportation Plan, often called the Coordinated Human Services Plan, a plan required for receiving federal transit dollars to serve older adults, people with disabilities, and people with lower incomes. Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) emphasized that contributions to this plan should come from community members, local governments, and specialized transportation providers.

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) described the various activities that inform the planning process, including engagement and outreach, analysis of existing conditions, and incorporation of previous and current planning efforts. Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) built upon the summary of what has been done to describe the various engagement activities, including a website launch, a digital engagement survey, presentations to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Regional Transportation Planning Advisory Committee (RTPAC), stakeholder interviews, and focus groups.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) then summarized what the project team has heard from stakeholders in the process thus far. Community members have shared the following:

Overall Planning Effort

• Create an inclusive transportation system from the start.
• Increase or identify funding for traditional and non-electric vehicles.

Ride Reservations

• Improve the experience of the current system.
• Make booking, canceling, or reserving single and/or reoccurring rides easier.
• Increase the number of volunteers to provide transportation.
• Include socialization preferences.

Operations

• Increase diversity of vehicle fleets.
• Align vehicles with requested trips.
• Increase service ranges.
• Improve safe access to fixed-route transit stops.
• Increase service capacity.
• Extend operational hours into evenings for social activities.

Partnerships

• Provide educational workshops for people with disabilities on how to use the system.
• Coordinate with health providers for medical visits.
• Coordinate marketing and resources among all providers.

While sharing commonly heard themes, stakeholders shared that they would prefer the transportation system was flexible and consider the rider’s needs, rather than expecting the rider to accommodate the transit schedule.

Stakeholders also asked for clarification on what was previously heard about the diversification of vehicle fleets. While conducting focus groups, riders expressed how the size of the vehicle matters. When riding in too large of a vehicle can create an awkward riding experience and draw attention to their transportation needs. A diversification in vehicle fleets could lend itself to a better rider experience. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee considered the challenges of providing a diverse fleet of vehicles, including funding needs and ongoing driver shortages. Stakeholders proposed potential solutions to these issues to include a shared fleet of vehicles, additional benefits for drivers including increased pay or community benefits, and increased coordination among providers to help share the demand for requested rides.

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) emphasized that the team looks forward to hearing from the community, which will inform improvement opportunities and recommendations. In addition to those in the room, stakeholders recommended additional organizations and communities that should be engaged throughout the plan. He then explained that the plan would propose solutions to meet accessibility, connectivity, service, user experience, and inter-service coordination needs.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee shared additional feedback, particularly on the ride reservation system. Stakeholders recommended the following considerations:

• Streamline how clients reserve rides, including the questions asked on intake calls.
• Create a shared database of client information.
• Educate clients about how to reserve rides within the system and what questions might be asked as part of the process.
• Improve getting rides when you are further than fifteen minutes from the provider.
• Eliminate the “no ride scenarios” for those needing to ride transit, paratransit, or specialized transportation.

When considering connectivity, stakeholders recommended exploring how transit operates within the larger transportation system, as there are only so many corridors to transport people. Additionally, stakeholders recommended that the team consider first- and last-mile connections and the creation of mobility hubs to assist riders in starting or ending their trips.

Existing Conditions

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) explained the technical team has been reviewing the existing service area to understand where specialized transportation and paratransit operate and where geographic gaps still exist. Within the existing service area (Figure 1) the current system requires riders or clients to navigate many different services or options. When looking to travel, riders must make a series of choices to meet their trip needs.

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) also shared that while this plan looks at current needs and gaps, it must anticipate future growth in the region. It is predicted that the Pikes Peak region will see a sharp increase in older adults by 2045, which could require additional funding, capacity, and resources for the transit system. The 2050 Specialized Transportation Plan looks to incorporate predicted demographic changes in its planning and coordinate with the 2050 Regional Transit Plan effort.

Within the plan, the project team will look at a series of possible improvements as potential strategies or recommendations, including:

• Create shared wheelchair-accessible vehicle fleets for all specialized providers to access and utilize.
• Develop creative opportunities to train and retain drivers.
• Implement a discounted taxi program for riders in areas where there are unmet geographic needs.
• Design infrastructure to include accessible travel paths to fixed route transit stops.

The coordination continuum (Figure 2) provides a possible framework for aspirational recommendations across all strategies and recommendations within the region’s transportation and transit system. Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson Nygaard) prompted stakeholders to consider what they would like this planning effort to be and where collaboration can create efficiency for future service. Coordination and partnership opportunities were themes discussed throughout the meeting. Stakeholders emphasized wanting to explore more opportunities to partner either with each other or through private-public partnerships. Stakeholders recommended creating more standardization across providers regarding regulations, data sharing, driver training programs, and vehicle maintenance.

Next Steps

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) closed the meeting by thanking those who could join the first stakeholder committee meeting. Stakeholder Committee members can expect a second committee meeting before the Public Open House in late Spring. The technical team will refine the needs and strategies between meetings based on incoming survey responses and further analysis.

Appendix C-1: Meeting Participants  

Stakeholder Committee Members – In Attendance

Name	Organization
Sharon Thompson	City of Fountain
Eric Esch	Envida
Gail Nehls	Envida
Lee Palke	Greccio Housing
Sharon King	On-Demand Transportation Group
DeAnna Rumsey	PPACG Mobility Coordinating Committee
Aaron Simeraro	Silver Key
Valerie Anders	Silver Key
Diana van Auken	Teller Senior Coalition
Kathy Lowry	Teller Senior Coalition
Roni Gordon	Teller Senior Coalition
Tom Lathrop	YMCA Colorado Springs Senior Center

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Members – Not in Attendance

Name	Organization
Jenn Nimmo	CCHACares
Darrel Holtzlander	Goodwheels
Jason DeaBueno	Silver Key
Edgar Morales	The Independence Center

Project Team 

Name	Organization
Laura Crews	PPACG
John Liosatos	PPACG
Danelle Miller	PPACG
Jacob Matsen	MMT
Lan Rao	MMT
Jackson Simmons	MMT
Ezra Pincus-Roth	Nelson\Nygaard
Jonathan Mosteiro	Nelson\Nygaard
Zach Barr	Kearns & West
Angela Jo Woolcott	Kearns & West
Caitlin Sheridan	Kearns & West

Specialized Transportation Plan Update – Stakeholder Advisory Committee – Meeting #2

Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. MT

Overview

Mountain Metro Transit (MMT), in partnership with the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG), held its second Specialized Transportation Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Stakeholders were identified and invited based on the plan’s boundaries to represent a cross-section of specialized transportation providers, riders, and social services.

The meeting objectives were to:

• Share a brief recap of the first meeting.
• Discuss current Specialized Transportation issues, potential near-term strategies, and long-term solutions.
• Understand stakeholders’ priorities related to the draft strategies.
• Preview Open House materials and discuss what else should be included.

This document summarizes the presentation delivered and the themes shared by meeting participants. The accompanying PowerPoint presentation is available for review upon request and includes enlarged maps. Please see page 37 for a summary of the strategies shared with the committee.

Welcome & Introductions

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West), meeting facilitator, introduced project team members, reviewed the agenda, meeting guidelines, and invited participants to introduce themselves. A table of participants is included in Appendix C-2.

While reviewing the stakeholder committee roles, Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) encouraged participants to help promote the upcoming 2050 Regional Transit and Specialized Transportation Plans Open House by encouraging others within their networks to attend the event.

Before discussing the draft strategies, Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) shared a short recap of the first meeting.

• The Specialized Transportation Plan is a chapter of the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
• The existing conditions show several gaps in the system and where growth is expected over the next 15 years in Colorado Springs.
• The Advisory Committee discussed what is currently working well, what could be improved, and examples of improvement projects.

Draft Strategies to Meet Needs

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) introduced the 2050 vision for regional transit in Colorado Springs (Figure 1). Under this vision, the ADA Paratransit service area would increase 67%. The draft 2050 Transit Vision includes the following:

• Increase the frequency of services in proven Transit Corridors
• Expand routes in growing areas
• Enhance speed and reliability improvements
• Designate on-demand Transportation zones

In response to the vision and increased fixed-route transit service, stakeholders shared that expanded fixed-route services would improve their quality of life by providing them freedom to travel to areas currently not accessible. At the same time, stakeholders expressed concerns that this expanded service would not improve door-through-door services or address the resource challenges on Specialized Transportation providers.

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) described the current challenges for service providers in the context of projected growth in population (including older adults) throughout the region. The 2045 LRTP made progress to increase equitable access to services and the ease of accessing those services, but barriers still exist, and growth will bring more demand for these services. Providers must do so much, from client intake to policy setting. Stakeholders were prompted to think through how to create efficiencies as providers, while prioritizing current riders, future riders, and the overall riding experience.

Providers’ shared operations are being streamlined through updating of dispatch software and the launch of a shared service to improve ride reservations. Additional training of drivers to build capacity is underway or planned. Sharing training resources was also discussed between stakeholders. Fleets are being diversified with smaller more comfortable vehicles to complete single-user rides. While providers shared the additional trainings staff are receiving, stakeholders discussed the value of coordinating training across providers and involving users or the Independence Center to participate.

The ZEB service was cited by the audience as an example of a successful local program that accommodates shoppers, seniors, and riders with disabilities in Colorado Springs.

When considering ways to improve service or create efficiencies, stakeholders shared one of the largest barriers is that of grant funding compliance. For example, a certain grant may have geographic or service-specific requirements that each provider must track and report. To overcome this challenge, stakeholders recommended a centralized system to distribute resources could address funding and compliance barriers but implementation brings its own challenges. Other innovative programs, like car trade-ins for aging populations, are successful in areas with mature transit systems.

During the discussion on how providers are addressing challenges, a stakeholder asked how Medicaid is factored into providers operations. Providers shared challenges in referring Medicaid patients to the appropriate service. Medicaid riders are required to use the lowest cost of transportation and may end up returning to service to meet that requirement.

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) reviewed the draft issues, near-term strategies (for consideration over the next five years), and long-term solutions (for consideration to help realize a vision for 2050).

Issue: A lack of understanding of the available specialized transit and paratransit networks, how they are different, and how each can potentially help riders.

• Short-term Strategy: Go through a process for developing specific standards for a more consistent and easily navigated network.
• Long-term Solution: Maintain a single regionwide brand and delivery design for all specialized and demand-response services as a condition of using public funds.

A stakeholder shared that understanding additional benefits, like the opportunity to socialize, is important when selecting a service.

Issue: Riders are expected to navigate a system that is unnecessarily complicated and unsatisfactory in meeting everyday travel needs.

• Short-term Strategy: Develop an easy-to-use website or similar tool for riders with a centralized information from providers.
  • Long-term Solution: Establish a mobility management program dedicated to trip coordination among providers.

A stakeholder asked if this solution would develop a single portal to book a ride. Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) clarified that the mechanism could be a portal or a single database for providers to access. By centralizing passenger information, providers may increase efficiency of matching riders needs and requests with the appropriate service. A centralized database of information would still help others, like senior center employees, schedule rides, reduce ‘deadhead’ rides, and increase efficiencies.

The stakeholders discussed the challenges for older-aged consumers to use new technology. A stakeholder shared that riders have such a variety of needs that must be addressed and that using generative Artificial intelligence (AI) may also help increase efficiencies in providing information to both riders and providers.

Issue: The only immediate service (or even a service reserved within a couple days) is via the private market.

• Short-term Strategy: Provide riders with a fixed maximum study for short notice rides and study other solutions.
• Long-term Solution: Coordinate service needed through a mobility management program dedicated to trip coordination among providers.

Issue: Riders must go through multiple processes and inquiries before finding a ride due to data being siloed by organization and different eligibility requirements between organizations.

• Short-term Strategy: Develop a common eligibility form and consolidated database of riders shared across providers.
• Long-term Solution: Utilize a third-party entity which is responsible for multiple services including database management, eligibility, information, and brokering.

Issue: Bus driver shortages.

• Short-term Strategy: Invest in centralized year-round driver training center accessible to all transit, specialized, volunteers, and school providers (including drug/alcohol, disability sensitivity, small vehicle, et. al.).
• Long-term Solution: Develop a bus operator apprenticeship and mentorship program, discuss opportunities to improve the job with drivers regularly, and ensure pay keeps up with the cost of living.

Issue: Traditional specialized transportation vehicles can be stigmatizing and uncomfortable for riders, and expensive to purchase and maintain.

• Short-term Strategy: Require grant applications for vehicle purchases demonstrate good faith efforts in coordinating with other entities to share existing underutilized vehicle fleets.
• Long-term Solution: Begin real-time monitoring of specialized transit riders per vehicle to strategically right-size vehicle fleets.

Issue: Riders may be uncomfortable or unable to access fixed-route bus stops which drives them to use paratransit or specialized services.

• Short-term Strategy: Prioritize the paving and lighting of current and future bus stops and coordinate paratransit eligibility with Colorado Springs Public Works once improvements are made.
• Long-term Solution: Build a foundation of regular transit riders through the convenience of frequent fixed-route service.

Jacob Matsen (MMT) added during the discussion of accessibility to bus stops, as ridership for MMT fixed-route service went up, the ridership for ADA paratransit went down. As more investment was put into bus stops and additional operational freedom for riders there was a greater degree of ability for paratransit users to use fixed-route which won’t eliminate paratransit but would help reduce the reliance/resources on the system. The project team also shared that access to the existing system has been a feedback theme from the ConnectCOS planning process. 

Ezra Pincus-Roth (Nelson\Nygaard) reminded Stakeholder Advisory Committee members that in the long run, the plan should build support for diversification of potential new local funding sources, help deliver mobility as a service for people who need it, and continue putting the rider first.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) then facilitated a round robin to hear stakeholders’ priorities as it related to short-term strategies or long-term solutions. Stakeholders were also asked to share if there were other priorities they agreed with (represented by the number in parenthesis following with strategy, Figure 2).

• Create a centralized call center for all ride reservations (1).
• Integrate Specialized Transportation into the healthcare system (1).
• Increase on-demand travel capacity and capabilities.
• Create a portal for riders to easily book and change ride reservations.
• Reduce or eliminate fares.
• Increase training for customer intake and service.
• Expand or increase funding available to providers and identify areas to share resources to increase efficiency.
• Develop a regional approach to planning that considers Specialized Transportation needs.
• Integrate Specialized Transportation needs into community planning and development.

2050 Regional Transit and Specialized Transportation Plans Open House Preview

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) previewed the 2050 Regional Transit and Specialized Transportation Plans Open House, scheduled for Tuesday April 30^th 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the City Administration Building. The Open House looks to achieve the following:

• Inform and educate the community about the planning process, existing services and route conditions, and how feedback will be incorporated into the final plan.
• Collect input that can be incorporated into screening criteria and ultimately inform outcomes and recommendations.
• Consult with attendees to help prioritize proposed transit improvements.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) reviewed the Open House format and stations. The Open House will be a ‘choose your own adventure’ meeting format with several topical stations with boards for participants to browse at their leisure. If someone is only interested in a specific topic, they may only visit that station. In addition to providing information, the Open House will also seek feedback from the public through various interactive activities and questions and answers to the project team. The planned Open House stations are:

• Welcome and Sign-in: Orient participants to the meeting.
• Process and Plans Overview: Contextualize how the Specialized Transportation and Regional Transit Plans are a component of the LRTP.
• Existing Conditions: Provide an overview of the current transit system.
  • Participant Exercise: Share where you live and where you like to travel on a map of Colorado Springs.
• Regional Transit Plan: Present the draft 2050 Transit Vision and different vision elements.
  • Participant Exercise: Prioritize the transit vision elements – which three draft transit vision elements would you prioritize?
• Specialized Transportation Plan: Present the draft strategies and how they address the specialized transportation needs.
  • Participant Exercise: Prioritize the draft strategies – which three draft strategies would you prioritize?
• What We’ve Heard: Summarize key feedback themes and outreach activities conducted thus far.
• Next Steps and Comment: Review next steps in the process and share your feedback via a comment card.

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) concluded by asking members to share if they would be able to attend the Open House. A majority of stakeholders raised their hand to show that they plan to attend. In addition to attending, Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) encouraged stakeholders to promote the upcoming open house. A digital promotional toolkit, which includes the flyer and drafted promotional language, will be shared with Stakeholder Advisory Committee members. 

Stakeholders were curious to understand if this would be the only open house. Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) clarified that there would be additional open houses as part of the LRTP process, but the Open House on April 30^th is solely focused on the 2050 Regional Transit and Specialized Transportation Plans, a component plan of the LRTP.

Next Steps

Angela Jo Woolcott (Kearns & West) closed the meeting by thanking those who could join the final stakeholder meeting. Stakeholder Committee members can expect more information on the Open House in the coming weeks.

Appendix C-2: Meeting Participants  

Stakeholder Committee Members – In Attendance

Name	Organization
Sharon Thompson	City of Fountain
Sean Martin	Goodwheels
Sharon King	On-Demand Transportation Group
Raquel Dominguez	Resource Exchange Center Board
Jason DeaBueno	Silver Key
Valerie Anders	Silver Key
Kathy Lowry	Teller Senior Coalition
Roni Gordon	Teller Senior Coalition
Scott Land	The Independence Center
Phil Young	The Independence Center
Tom Lathrop	YMCA Colorado Springs Senior Center

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Members – Not in Attendance

Name	Organization
Eric Esch	Envida
Gail Nehls	Envida
Aaron Simerone	Silver Key
Edgar Morales	The Independence Center

Project Team 

Name	Organization
Laura Crews	PPACG
John Liosatos	PPACG
Danelle Miller	PPACG
Jared Verner	PPACG
Jacob Matsen	MMT
Lan Rao	MMT
Allison Burns	MMT
Tara Evans	MMT
Ezra Pincus-Roth	Nelson\Nygaard
Jonathan Mosteiro	Nelson\Nygaard
Thomas Wittmann	Nelson\Nygaard
Zach Barr	Kearns & West
Angela Jo Woolcott	Kearns & West
Caitlin Sheridan	Kearns & West