In the evolving landscape of community transportation, moving people from point A to point B is no longer just about operating a bus route; it’s about weaving together a menu of services that ensure no one is left behind. This strategic coordination is what we call Mobility Management.
A high-performing mobility management program isn't defined by the size of its fleet, but by its ability to act as a bridge between silos. Key characteristics include:
- Collaborative Spirit: Establishing partnerships between Area Agencies on Aging, public transit, and volunteer driver programs.
- Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing sophisticated tools like Trip Cost Allocation pilots and state-by-state profile mapping to identify service gaps.
- Focus on Equity: Prioritizing the "Upstream Health Determinants " (social determinants of health) by connecting residents to healthcare, prescriptions, groceries, and employment.
- Resource Savvy: Mastering the complex "art" of cross sector funding, especially at the Federal level, (Federal Fund Braiding). This strategy will allow different federal funding streams to work together seamlessly.
Best Practices in Action
Drawing from successful past and current initiatives, here are the gold standards for modern mobility management:
- Customer-Centered Design: Programs should start and end with the customer, emphasizing listening to the local community and conducting ongoing needs assessments to design services that fit specific identified needs.
- Broad Partnership and Collaboration: Successful practices are built on community-wide partnerships involving diverse stakeholders beyond traditional transit, such as workforce, medical, and human service agencies.
- Innovation and Flexibility: Mobility managers should be encouraged to "disrupt business as usual," looking for creative "right-fit" solutions rather than sticking only to standard fixed-route services.
- Single Point of Access: A key goal is offering customers a "one-stop shop" or single point of access (such as One-Call/One-Click centers) to navigate multiple travel modes efficiently.
- Performance Measurement: Agencies should develop metrics in five basic categories—inputs, outputs, outcomes, impacts, and efficiencies—to guide decision-making and document program value.
- Sustainable Resource Management: Managers should leverage all available funding sources, including public and private revenue, and master "Federal Fund Braiding" to maximize community impact
Mobility management is not "one size fits all." Effective programs implement diverse service models, such as:
- Micro-transit & Paratransit: Expanding hours and zones to serve highly rural areas.
- NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation): Using specific case studies (like "Transit RX") to refine how patients get to dialysis or primary care.
- Rural Options: Reducing the barrier of cost entirely in targeted rural zones to stimulate economic mobility.
Continuous Technical Assistance & Learning
The landscape of transit regulations (like FTA 5310, USDA, or HHS) is constantly changing. A robust program maintains an "all-in" approach to staff training, participating in onsite collaborative learning and regional coordination meetings to stay ahead of the curve
The Impact: Moving Beyond the Bus
The ultimate goal of these practices is to improve lives. Through innovative mobility management programs like the Community Rides Grant Program, we see these "arts" applied in real-world settings—from Providence, Rhode Island, to Seattle, Washington. By focusing on basic access for the underserved and those with significant barriers to transportation, mobility managers aren't just driving vehicles—they are driving community health.
