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Page 5-1 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families This chapter presents a planning framework to guide the next steps once your community has reached out and engaged its initial partners. Key planning steps include identifying and assessing transportation needs, deining the gaps in transportation services that the identiied needs suggest, and devising strategies to address the gaps. The planning steps follow an organized process, however they are still worthwhile if followed out-of-sequence. And if you are not able to complete all the steps, whatever you and your key leadership group can accomplish will lead you closer to understanding what should be done to improve your communityâs transportation for veterans, service members, and their families. Step 1: Idenfy NeedsâFrom Perspecve of Partner Organizaons This irst step in the planning process describes several approaches to identify the transportation and mobility concerns of veterans, service members, and their families from the perspective of the organizations in your community that are involved with the target groups. How to Idenfy Needs There are various ways to learn of transportation needs as identiied by your partner organizations, and you may have already begun this process during your outreach efforts. Meengs and Interviews One-on-one meetings with the key organizations as well as interviews with speciic individuals working at the organizations provide opportunities to ask about transportation issues and concerns. It is useful to ask the following types of questions: How is your organization currently involved with transportation for veterans (or service members or their families)? Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Chapter 5
Page 5-2 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â What sort of transportation service do you provide, support, or facilitate for veterans (or service members or their families)? Are there current issues or problems with that transportation; if so, what are they? For example: adequate number of vehicles? Available, quali�ied drivers? Able to meet your transportation objectives? Can veterans (or service members or their families) access the services that your organization provides? Are you, or is your organization, aware of available community transportation services? What is working and what is not working with available community transportation services? If there are problems, what are they? Attend Gatherings or Events Sponsored by Organizational Partners Consider attending the gatherings, events, or coalition meetings of the organizations in your community that have relevant overlapping interests. For example, the signi�icant effort to address veteransâ homelessness has led many communities and regions to sponsor âSummits,â where government and community-based agencies share resources and ideas to help those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness. Transportation is an issue that is discussed at such events. County departments of Veteransâ Affairs and state-led initiatives, such as special women veteran outreach coalitions, often bring together potentially like-minded organizational representatives. Transportation may not be a primary topic, but attendees may have information and anecdotal reports of transportation issues that underlie the groupâs main topics of concern. To �ind out about such events or existing coalitions, ask your partners about future events or collaborative initiatives in which they participate. Attending such gathering and possibly interviewing key individuals may help further develop your communityâs understanding of mobility concerns. Participation in such related groups offers an opportunity to: Identify transportation needs not yet identi�ied. Identify new partners whose resources can aid in developing strategies for improvement or in âgetting out the wordâ about new services when your efforts have such to introduce. Inform other interested organizations and groups about your mission.
Page 5-3 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â TIP Keep a running list of meetings your team holds and those organized by other groups in which you participate. Prepare minutes when you can. Such documentation further strengthens the background picture that is developing. Importantly, that documentation can become part of the information provided to organizations in your community that may not be actively involved with your endeavorâbut do have an interestâso they stay apprised of your groupâs efforts. This information may also help your pursuit of new funding, when documentation of your communityâs history of working together often has value. Survey Partner Organizaons Another option to consider is to conduct a simple survey of relevant partner organizationsâthose that work directly with veterans, service members, and families. Ask them to disseminate it to employees or front-line staff working directly with members of the target groups. Surveys can pose such questions as: How are veterans (or service members or their families) now traveling? What organizations or programs are currently providing transportation to veterans, to family members, to active military? What transportation needs do they report? What are common destinations that are difÂicult to access? Which types of trips are difÂicult to make? Trips for medical care? Trips to work? Trips for other purposes? How often are these trips needed? Using some of the current online survey tools that exist, a simple e-survey tool can be developed with responses readily summarized by the e-survey software. Survey Monkey, for example, is one common online tool that allows for surveying. A short survey for organizations that work directly with veterans and/or their families is provided in the Tools section at the back of this chapter to help get you started. The questions can be revised or questions added as the particular concerns or opportunities of your community become apparent. What You May Hear from Partner Organiza ons Understanding the transportation issues and needs of your partner organizations is an important part of the needs identi ication process. Research conducted for this project found the following types of needs:
Page 5-4 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â âMore volunteers for drivingâ was the top ranked need by DAV/VTN program respondents to the survey question asking about improvements to better meet veteransâ transportation needs, with almost 90% of respondents reporting this need. TCRP B-42 survey of 99 DAV/VTN transportation programs, July 2012. VA Medical CentersâMany VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) are gearing up to meet healthcare needs of newly returning veterans, even as they see increased healthcare use by aging Vietnam and Korea veterans. Often transportation needs outstrip available VTS and DAV or AMVET resources and usually reÂlect long-distance trips that are difÂicult to serve. VA-Based Volunteer Transportation ProgramsâThe DAV and AMVET programsâ needs may include more volunteer drivers to meet trip demand, better vehicle equipment, safe parking of vehicles or even coordinated trip scheduling. Identifying these may lead to feasible strategies that your community can support. Military BasesâTransportation needs in and out of military installations are various. They may involve commuting for active military who live off base as well as for civilian employees. Transportation for family members living on-base but in one car households may be important during times or days when the non- military spouse doesnât have access to a vehicle. Base transportation solutions must address security concerns and provision of service to or through the âgate.â Public Transit AgenciesâSome public transit agencies, including elected ofÂicials who sit on their boards, are seeking better ways to meet veteransâ needs as community-level awareness grows of veteransâ issues. Transit agencies are often trying to learn about and understand the local needs of veterans in the community. Community-Based AgenciesâBoth those providing transportation and those with clients needing transportation are increasingly aware of the difÂiculties of delivering service if veterans or their family members cannot access program locations. For community-based organizations, needs can be highly speciÂic, involving particular origins and destinations or times and days when trips are needed. Sometimes, their greatest needs result from lack of awareness of available public transportation services. Partner Organizaonsâ Understanding of Individual Needs Your organizational partners will often have a good understanding of some of the spatial, temporal or other types of transportation needs of the veterans, service members, or family members with whom they are involved. Among your partners, what type of mobility needs do they see for veterans, active military personnel, and family members? These may include: Getting to the VAâThe most common need of individual veterans across all communities is likely getting to the VA, but particularly for those residing at some distance from the closest VA Medical Center. Since the VA Medical Centers are regionally located, trips to access VA
Page 5-5 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â facilities via public transit often involve more than one transit system and require making a connection or transfer between transit systems. Finding Useful Information About TransportationâFor individuals to understand a complex transportation service environment, knowing where to look for information about services is one problem. The second problem, which may come Âirst, is knowing if services exist that can meet individual veteransâ needs. Identifying the triggering event when a veteran or a family member may begin to seek information about transportation is critical to helping link veterans with available services. Similarly, identifying locations or organizations where individuals may seek help is important. Thinking ahead to strategies that help with information needs, your communityâs transportation improvement efforts should ensure that staff at those locations or organizations where veterans or service members seek information, once you have identiÂied them, have a solid understanding of available transportation resources. Paying for TransportationâFor veterans who may be homeless or at risk of homelessness, paying a transit fare may not be possible. Traveling to DAV and AMVET Pick-Up PointsâVolunteer driver program staff may know if veterans have problems accessing the pick- up points. Or perhaps those pick-up points could be improved with, for example, bus stop amenities. Step 2: Idenfy NeedsâFrom Perspecve of Individuals Hearing directly from veterans, service members, and family members will help inform your communityâs planning process, both early in the process and at later stages as well. Survey Target Groups Directly Various options exist for getting information directly from members of the target groups whom you wish to assist. This can be important to understand what might help them, what transportation services they might use, and how aware they are of existing transportation resources in your community. Options to consider include: Intercept surveys at VA Medical Center entrances. Intercept surveys at bus stops outside or near VAMC facilities. Tables or booths at âStand Downâ events, where you can invite attendeesâ input on transportation concerns as well as provide information about available transportation resources. (Stand Downs
Page 5-6 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â are part of the VAâs efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. These are typically one- to three-day events providing services to homeless veterans, such as food, shelter, clothing, and health screenings. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless. VA information on Stand Down events is provided at this website: http://www.va.gov/homeless/index.asp Conducting a survey of military service members will likely require some effort, if working through a military installation. It may be possible to coordinate a survey effort through a community liaison of�icer, if the installation has one, or there may be a community-based organization that serves as a coordinator of issues of mutual interest to the military and civilian communities that might be able to help you with a survey of service members. Refer to the end of the chapter under Tools for an example of questions to ask in an intercept survey to learn from veterans about their transportation issues. 2-1-1 Organizations Can Survey Callers The 2-1-1 telephone number has been assigned for community information and referral services, and many communities have established this service, providing call-takers who are available, sometimes 24 hours/day, to provide help. If your community has a 2-1-1 service, the organization responsible for providing the service can help generate information about veterans, their family members, and even active duty military members, by adding a few questions for callers seeking information and help with transportation. The questions to ask should aim to �ind out (1) if the caller is a veteran, active duty service member, or a family member; (2) in what part of your de�ined âcommunityâ or region they live; and (3) whether they have access to a car and what their important transportation needs are, including the reason for the call to 2-1-1. Several 2-1-1 organizations have already added such questions to assist in identifying transportation needs of the target groups, and have found that it is most useful to ask âHave you served in the military?â rather than âAre you a veteran?â Some newly returning individuals who served in Iraq and Afghanistan do not self-identify as veterans.
Page 5-7 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Step 3: Assess Data and Document Needs The previous steps will give you an understanding of transportation needs from the perspectives of organizations and individuals, which tend to be more qualitative. Step 3 is more quantitative, using Census data and other tools to assess needs, and this is important for several reasons: 1) The data can illuminate issues raised by partner organizations. 2) The assessment helps document the location and characteristics of need. 3) The data can help target resources to areas of greatest transportation need. 4) Quantitative analyses are useful in securing new funding. Gather and Present Census Informaon U.S. Census information provides important basic building block information about veterans in your community and some information about active military personnel. Census information on veterans in the 2010 Census and in the American Community Surveyâits one-year, three-year and Âive-year updatesâis very robust and provides a key starting point for analysis. Census information can easily be presented numerically and in tables to highlight information of interest: number of veterans by age, gender, period of service, etc. Census information can also be mapped to show distribution within your communityâwhere are the concentrations of veterans? Where are these concentrations located in relation to the destinations of interest for veterans, such as the VAMC or other VA facilities? The mapping of information requires GIS (Geographic Information System) capabilities. GIS, a mapping application that links data to its geographic location, can be a powerful tool. It will allow you to present data that reveals relationships and patterns, and the visual format allows you to look at the data in ways that can be quickly understood and easily shared. These maps can be shared with your partners and will show transportation needs more clearly than tables of numbers and Census Âigures. If you do not have access to GIS tools or know how to use them, you should look to other organizations in your community that do have GIS expertise and seek help in creating the maps for you. Such organizations might include your Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), your city or countyâs planning ofÂice, land-use planning Âirms, or perhaps a local college or university could help out.
Page 5-8 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Map Key Destinations In conjunction with tabulating and mapping Census data, this is a good time to locate (if not done already) and map common destinations for veterans. For most veterans, there are four key destinations to which they commonly travel: 1) Regional VA Medical Centers, 2) VA community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), 3) Other veteransâ outpatient clinics, and 4) The Vet Centers where bene�it assessments are made. (Vet Centers can be found through this website: http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/) Some communities have residential veteransâ rehabilitation facilitiesâsometimes these are identi�ied as VA domiciliary sites or U.S. Vets residential programs. Local county veteransâ of�ices, among others, should know of such locations. (The VAâs domiciliary care program is the VAâs oldest healthcare program, initiated to provide a home for disabled volunteer soldiers of the Civil War and is now integrated with the VAâs Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs.) Destinations for military personnel as well as family members of either group are likely be more unique and speci�ic to each community. Exhibit 5-1 is an example of a GIS map for a large region in Southern California, showing key veteransâ facilities and the distribution of veterans as a percent of the Census tract population. This was a helpful starting point to depict the regional mobility challenges and to engage community partners in considering next steps. Exhibit 5-1: Example of GIS MapâVeteran Facilities and Percent Distribution of Veterans, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CA
Page 5-9 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Several tribal transit contacts interviewed through the research project reported that the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan was useful, both to identify and document needs and in suggesting strategies of response. Additional examples of GIS maps are provided under Tools at the end of the chapter, along with information about useful Census data products. Be aware that the information you want to show and how it is presented often changes as your need for information develops. Gather Other Available Data and Information Various studies that address or include information on veterans and their family members, as well as active duty military personnel, may have already been conducted in your community and just require discovery. There are several plans that you might try to locate and review to see if veteransâ transportation needs have been discussed or identi�ied. These include: The Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation PlanâAs mentioned in Chapter 3, this is an important plan for transportation coordination and may address transportation needs of veterans. Your communityâs Area Agency on Aging plan. Plans or studies on needs assessment done by the Community Action Agency, the United Way Agency, or League of Women Voters. Homeless coalition reports, including the CHALENG annual reports. (CHALENGâCommunity Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groupsâis a VA program that is designed to have the VA work collaboratively with the local community to address needs of homeless veterans.) A brief review of such documents can determine if transportation topics are addressed and if veterans or military service members or family member needs are speci�ically identi�ied. Other information can be sought from state or county departments of Veterans Affairs who often have resources of value to such efforts. TIP Be sure to carefully document your sources, whether it is data from the U.S. Census or the American Community Survey or from other documents. This contributes to the credibility of the âpicture of needâ that you are developing and also helps others appropriately reference solid information if they use information you have collected and presented. It is also much easier to note your sources when you are gathering information rather than going back later to �ind sources.
Page 5-10 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Step 4: Idenfy, Compile, and Review Available Transportaon Resources In order to understand gaps and areas of unmet need, it is essential to document the existing transportation resources that are available in your community. What services are already in place? How do existing services meet veteransâ speciÂic transportation needs? And if you have a military installation within or nearby your community, do current services meet mobility needs of service members and their families? Have the transportation services and initiatives for veterans and service members that are identiÂied in Chapter 2 been investigated? Where and how do the transportation services fall short? How well do existing transportation resources serve the common destinations to which veterans travel? What does all this tell you and your partners about strategies of response? Public Transit Services and Programs Assess how well the public transit services in your community serve VA facilities or other locations that may be frequented by veterans or service members and their families. If your community has Âixed routes, determine to what extent the routes extend to key destinations where the target groups travel. What about ADA paratransit? If such service is restricted to ¾ mile corridors of Âixed routes and depending on the design of those routes, there may be important destinations that are outside the ADA service area. This means that veterans with disabilities do not have access to those facilities with your communityâs ADA paratransit service. If your community is rural, you may have very limited public transit service; it may be only a demand responsive program. If this is the case, determine if service is available to the key destinations. Does the service area include the CBOC or subsidized housing where veterans may live? It can also be useful to determine current levels of public transit ridership to the VA facilities that are served by the routing design. This will establish a baseline against which to assess need and improvement. What other public transportation services exist and what are their ridership levels? Exhibit 5-2 shows information on Âixed-route and demand response trips into one communityâs VAMC on a daily basis. The community hopes both to grow these trips and to better identify the array of other transportation resources that serve this facility, in order to better connect veterans with the VA services. According to a survey of more than 400 employment specialists assisting veterans, one of the top transportation problems is that available public transit does not meet veteransâ needs. One respondent captured one of public transitâs shortcomings: âThe local bus does not travel out to the industrial park where many job openings are.â TCRP B-42 online survey of Department of Labor staff assisting veterans with employment, August 2012.
Page 5-11 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â After mapping how its existing transit routes served veteransâ facilities, one community dis- covered that most of the VA CBOCs were not within reasonable walk- ing distance of �ixed-route transit. This planning effort enabled the communityâs transit agency to put the CBOCs clearly on the table for its next comprehensive operational analysis when route revisions to better serve veterans could be considered. Exhibit 5-2: Depicting Daily Public Transit Trips into a VAMC Consider documenting your communityâs public transit services in relation to key destination served: Fixed-route services, stops, routes and frequencies. ADA paratransit. Other public transit services, including commuter services that could be used to make connections to the destinations. Community-Based and Specialized Transportation Documenting transportation resources that serve veterans or others in the military community should include community-based non-pro�it resources as well as specialized transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities. There may be non-pro�it agencies supporting service members and their families. Is transportation among the support services? Are there âper diemâ organizations helping homeless veterans, including group homes, which assist with a basic level of transportation support? Can you document these and develop an understanding of pick-up points and of the resources available to
Page 5-12 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â these programs: How many vehicles? How many are lift-equipped? How many volunteers or staff drivers do they have and what training resources exist for these individuals? Many veterans are also seniors, so they are eligible for senior programs that are available in most communities. Find out if transportation is among the services offered by the programs and, if so, what level and type of transportation service is provided. Volunteer Transportaon Resources Your community may have volunteer transportation services, such as that provided by DAV and VTN. If so, investigate where in your community the DAV/VTN vehicles pick up veterans. Many of the DAV programs pick up veterans only at designated locations, and transportation to those locations may be a need in your community. Communities may have other volunteer driver programs or volunteer mileage reimbursement programs. These are also important resources and should be included in the listing of resources. The inventories prepared through the Coordinated Human Services-Public Transportation Plan process are often a valuable resource for identifying such transportation services. Private Transportaon and Other Community Mobility Resources Be sure to include private transportation services such as local taxi companies and intercity bus service in the identiÂication of community transportation resources. What about a ride-sharing program? Does your community have one? Or perhaps your community may be among a small but growing number with a bike sharing program. Short-term bike rentals can be an efÂicient option for short trips in the community. See Tools for an example of an online survey to identify transportation services available or provided to veterans, developed by the Colorado Veteransâ Transportation Task Force. Adequacy of Available Transportaon Resources to Key Desnaons of Veterans, Service Members, and Families Destinations important for veterans, service members, and their families that already have transportation service are very likely locations to which additional trips are needed. Review the extent to which these locations are currently served by your communityâs public transit system, including the days and times of service. These locations represent important sites for potential improved transportation service.
Page 5-13 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â For example, compare the operating hours of these locations with the current availability of transit services. If the community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) is open on Saturday mornings, is transit service available then? Expand your list of key destination addresses that you may have mapped in a GIS-type activity, including: Specialty clinics, focused on, for example, womenâs health services or for dialysis. CBOCs. Residential veteransâ programs, including U.S. Vets and the VAâs domiciliary care program. Rural health clinics or other outpatient facilities to which veterans or their family members may be directed. Community colleges with classes and re-entry training. Compile Resources The information on available transportation resources can be compiled and documented in various ways. Lists of transportation services that are presently available have some value as a place to start, but their on-going value is limited. More important is beginning to organize the information so that it is immediately useful both to those who may be assisting veterans, service members, or family member and to the individuals themselves. A matrix of transportation services and locations served is a useful tool for advising veterans or service members on available options. This can be accompanied by a listing that shows the basic contact information. The example below shows one such matrix of destinations and available services. Desnaon ABC Transit Fixed-route ADA Paratransit TRIP Mileage Reimbursement DAV/ AMVETS VAMC, 111 Strong St. Rt. #12 Half-hourly Rt. #7 Hourly, From 6 am to 9 pm weekdays ADA cerÂfied riders traveling from within 3/4 mi. of ABC Transitâs fixed routes during Âmes when fixed-route service is operaÂonal; curb-to-curb service. Eligible riders are persons over age 60 or with a disability who have been accepted into the program. For those finding their own volunteer driver, the program will pay $0.35 cents per mile, up to monthly mileage cap. For ambulatory riders between VAMC and pick-up points. Community- based outpaent clinic 222 Vine St. Rt. #3, hourly at 10 min. past the hour; 5 minute walk south on Main Street to Vine. On special occasions. US Vets residenal program Rt. # 6 hourly; transfer to Rt. #7 downtown. No service. Exhibit 5-3: Example Matrix of VA Facilities and Available Transportation Services
Page 5-14 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Counselors at the VA and Marylandâs public health system found that some veterans were missing their appointments for mental health and substance abuse services because of transportation problems. To meet this gap, transportation service can now be scheduled (and paid for) through a program designed to assist veterans and their families coordinate behavioral health services. The program, Marylandâs Commitment to Veterans, is a collaboration between the stateâs Health and Mental Hygiene Department, the VA, the Maryland National Guard, and the stateâs Defense Force, with Regional Resource Coordinators providing one-on-one assistance, including arranging trips to appointments. United We Ride, a Federal initiative designed to support transportation coordination, has developed a âCommunity Transportation Options Directory,â which provides a framework for inventorying existing transportation options in a community. See more information and a link to this resource in Tools at the end of this chapter. Step 5: Identify Gaps The preceding steps in the planning process will likely yield a great deal of information. This will give you and your leadership group a deeper understanding of transportation needs for veterans, service members, and families within your community. You will have statistical information documented from the Census and perhaps complemented with information from studies or reports previously completed in your community. You will also have identi�ied the transportation resources currently available and collected information from members of the target groups that suggest how well these resources are working or where they are de�icient. The next step is to de�ine the gaps. An analysis of gaps will consider the transportation resources that exist relative to the transportation needs that have been identi�ied to speci�ically de�ine the gaps. Clarity about gaps and the unmet needs leads to effective responses. Gaps may emerge that show where there is missing transportation service or where current services fall short. Does �ixed-route service travel within reasonable distances of key destinations and are walking distances from stops to facilities manageable? Do they operate on the days and at the times that trips are needed? Are the services reliable? Do services conveniently connect with each other? With transfers, can existing services provide the trips that veterans and service members need or are there spatial gaps because services donât connect well or because they donât connect at all? Public transit service may stop at jurisdictional boundaries. There may be informal transfers and these could be made more formal so they are more reliable or more ef�icient. Do members of the target groups know about existing services? Do prospective users of community transportation services know how to �ind services that exist? Information about transportation options is often a gap. Does staff at agencies serving veterans
Page 5-15 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â know of local transit information tools that exist? Is Google Transit in place in your community and are transit trip-planning tools promoted to existing or to prospective users? These are examples of the types of gaps that you may identify in your community. It is useful to consider gaps in relation, Âirst, to gaps experienced by organizations and programs working to meet mobility needs, such as the DAV volunteer driver program; and, second, to gaps experienced by members of the target groups, for instance, veterans seeking employment who may be looking for jobs at the big box retailers located outside the service area of the communityâs public transit system. Step 6: Idenfy Strategies and Responses Your efforts thus far in your endeavor to improve community transportation for veterans, service members, and families have helped to strengthen your partnerships and to develop a solid understanding of needs in your communityâproblems, challenges, and weaknesses in the current service network. Your efforts have also identiÂied transportation resources that do exist and which serve as a foundation to build upon, and you have identiÂied the gaps. This next step involves identifying strategies that respond to the gaps and help improve mobility options for veterans, service members, and their family members. Traveling from unmet needs to responsive strategies is both simple and complex. You might begin by listing all of the needs or gaps your efforts have identiÂied and then, possibly through a brain-storming session with your key partners, develop possible responses. There are several approaches for organizing your efforts in this task. One approach is to list the transportation needs identiÂied and then consider strategies to address those needs. Another way is to summarize needs by organizational group, with strategies that respond to the groupings. Examples of these approaches are provided in the Tools section of this chapter. Where to Start The full list of needs in relation to strategies is likely to be long and somewhat daunting. You and your partners will want to determine what is most likely and feasible to undertake in the short-term and what will be longer-term and more difÂicult to fund. As one of the projectâs leaders, you will want to identify what is immediately possible and help work to bring that about. Early
Page 5-16 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â successes of even a modest sort can help to fuel the longer-term, system-level change that may be needed to satisfy some travel needs. Chapter 6, Coordination and Mobility Management and Chapter 7, Services will talk further about speciic projects and strategies that your community can consider. These will give you additional ideas about what to put in the last columnâthe type of responses and strategies that may it with your community. Work with your stakeholders to identify those needs that are of greatest concern to them and see what strategies can feasibly be identiied to address those. As you begin to identify near-term, mid-term and longer-term strategies, your plan for community transportation improvement is taking shape. Importantly, as you begin to address some areas of need, keep track of the achievements and make sure to give your community credit for these successes. Chapter 9, Communication will help you identify the communication tools that will be valuable to your communityâs endeavor, importantly, to connect veterans and military community members with available transportation and to report on the achievements of your communityâs efforts that lead to more trips for more people! Closing Comments About This Chapterâs Planning Process This chapter has laid out an organized approach to planning that sequences six steps in a rational planning process. Real life is unlikely to happen as cleanly, if only because this work is one effort among many in life, and there are competing demands on everyoneâs time. The steps in this process will still have great value if taken âout of order,â when you are able to or when resources present that make them possible. While the elements presented here have value and the power of information when taken together, they can also further a communityâs process when undertaken individually. So donât be concerned if you cannot undertake all the options presented here. Simply use these tools as appropriate to your community to get started!
Page 5-17Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Chapter 5: Community Tools 5.1 Example of Short Survey for Organizaons That Work Directly with Veterans and Their Families 5.2 Sample Quesons to Ask in an Intercept Survey of Veterans to Learn About Transportaon Needs and Issues 5.3 Examples of GIS Maps and Informaon About Useful Census Data Products 5.4 Online Survey to Idenfy Transportaon Services for Veterans, Developed by Coloradoâs Veteransâ Transportaon Task Force 5.5 United We Rideâs âCommunity Transportaon Opons Directoryâ 5.6 Two Approaches to Idenfying Strategies That Respond to Needs
Page 5-18 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.1 Example of Short Survey for Organizations That Work Directly with Veterans and Their Families Survey of Partner Organization Improving Community Transportation for Veterans and Their Families Our community is working to identify the transportation needs of veterans and their families, and to then identify options to meet those needs. Please help us identify transportation needs by answering the following few questions. We may follow up with more detailed questions. Thank you so much for your assistance! 1. Agency Name and Contact Information Agency Name Contact Person Phone Number Email 2. Estimated number of veterans on your agencyâs roster living within [Community]? Total number of veterans enrolled or on caseload lists, if applicable Average daily attendance Estimated daily number of veterans requiring transportation assistance Estimated daily number of veterans who require a wheelchair 3. Top 3 destinations/ trips to which VETERANS travel or need to go to (speciï¬c location, city, ZIP code, etc.) 1. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 2. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 3. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 4. Top 3 destinations/trips to which veteransâ FAMILY MEMBERS travel or need to go (Speciï¬c location, city, ZIP code, etc. 1. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 2. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 3. Destination Origin Trip Purpose 5. Comments about transportation needs for veterans and their families.
Page 5-19Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.2 Sample Quesons to Ask in an Intercept Survey of Veterans to Learn About Transportaon Needs and Issues Survey â Improving Transportaon to ____ [insert name of VA Medical Center] Please take a few minutes to answer this brief survey about transporta on to the [Insert Name of VA Medical Center]. Our community is trying to improve transporta on to this Medical Center and we would very much appreciate your input. Please return the survey to the person who gave it to you. 1. How did you get here today? Drove myself Taxi A family member or friend drove me Public transit bus DAV Volunteer driver Other volunteer driver program Transporta on provided by the VA Medical Center â Veterans Transportaon Service Other; please specify: 2. Where did you begin your trip today to the Medical Center? Home; please provide the nearest major intersec on, city and zip code Another loca on; please provide the nearest major intersec on, city and zip code 3. About how long did it take you today to get to the Medical Center? Less than one hour Two to three hours One hour to two hours Three hours or more 4. What other transportaon modes do you somemes use to get to this Medical Center? Drive myself Taxi A family member or friend drives me Public transit bus DAV Volunteer driver Other volunteer driver program Transportaon provided by the VA Medical Center â Veterans Transportaon Service Other; please specify: 5. How oen do you come to the Medical Center? Every week or more oen Once every few months Several mes every month Just several mes per year 6. Is transportaon to the Medical Center a problem for you? Yes Somemes No If Yes or Somemes, please explain: Difficult to make the trip on public transportaon Not always able to get a trip on the DAV volunteer driver program I use a wheelchair and itâs hard to find transportaon that accommodates wheelchairs Other; please explain below in queson in #7
Page 5-20 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.2 Sample Quesons to Ask in an Intercept Survey of Veterans to Learn About Transportaon Needs and Issues (connued) 7. Please provide any comments about transportaon to this Medical Center: 8. If you wanted to find out about available transportaon opons to get to this Medical Center, where would you go? Not sure / I donât know Call the VA Medical Center Look on the website of the VA Medical Center Call a Veterans Service OrganizaÂon (e.g., VFW, American Legion, etc.) Contact the local public transit agency Other; please specify: 9. Thinking about other types of trips beyond medical trips to the VA, are there parcular trips that are difficult for you and your family members or are there parcular desnaons important for your family that are difficult to reach? Please provide any comments here, which will help up improve our communityâs transportaon for veterans and families:
Page 5-21Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.3 Examples of GIS Maps and Information About Useful Census Data Products Veteran status information is available through the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is an ongoing statistical survey that samples a small percentage of the population every year. The ACS produces a single year estimate as well as a multiyear estimate. The multiyear estimate includes a three-year and a �ive-year estimate. The table below provides the features of the ACS one-year, three-year, and �ive-year estimates. 1 Year Estimates 3 Year Estimates 5 Year Estimates 12 months of collected data 36 months of collected data 60 months of collected data Data for areas with population of 65,000 + Data for area with populations of 20,000 + Data for all areas Smallest sample size Larger sample size than 1 year Largest sample size Less reliable than 3 year or 5 year More reliable than 1 year; less reliable than 5 year Most reliable Most current data Less current than 1 year estimates; more current than 5 year Least current Best Used When Best Used When Best Used When Currency is more important than precision More precise than 1 year, more current than 5 year Precision is more important than currency Analyzing large populations Analyzing smaller populations Analyzing very small populations Examining smaller geographies because 1 year estimates are not available Examining tracts and other smaller geographies because 1 year estimates are not available Source: US Census The ACS datasets can be accessed through the Census website, www.census.gov. The Census website may change as new datasets and data tools become available. Generally, however, to access the ACS datasets on the Census website follow these steps: 1. On the Census homepage place the cursor over the âDataâ button at the top of the website. 2. In the drop-down list under the âDataâ button, select the âAmerican FactFinderâ link. 3. On the American FactFinder page click on the âget dataâ link next to the American Community Survey heading. 4. On the left side of the page select the Topics category and click on âPeopleâ then âVeteransâ and select âVeterans Statusâ. 5. Next select the Geographies category. 6. In the Geographies dialogue box under the List tab click on the Geographic Type drop-down menu and select Census Tract â 140 7. Select the State.
Page 5-22 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.3 Examples of GIS Maps and Informa on About Useful Census Data Products (con nued) 8. Select the County. Select âAll Census Tracts within Countyâ and click âAdd to your Selectionsâ. 9. Repeat Step 8 if data for additional Counties is needed. 10. Close the dialogue box. 11. Place a check mark next to the Veteran Status Table. 12. Click âDownloadâ to save the table locally. Examples of GIS maps are provided on the following three pages, using as an example the veteran population for Amarillo, Texas. Three maps are shown, depicting the data on veterans in three ways. The veteran data used in these maps were obtained through the Census website from the American Community Survey following the steps outlined above. Each of the three maps provides data on the veteran population at the Census Tract level. Locations of veteran facilities, including the VA Medical Center, the Pavilion (a hospital treating mental health with a specialized unit for veterans and military patients), the American Legion, and the Veteran Center are also depicted in the maps. Map 1 provides a geographic illustration of the number of veterans throughout the Amarillo area including the Counties of Potter and Randall. The greatest number residents that are veterans seem to be located north of Amarillo in Potter County and in a small area just south of Amarillo in Randall County. Map 2 provides a geographic illustration of the density (number of veterans per square mile) of veterans throughout the same area. The highest concentrations of veterans appear to be within the City of Amarillo. However, while there are a few census tracts in the City of Amarillo with high numbers of veterans, the high concentrations are likely a function of the smaller geographical size of the census tracts in the City. Map 3 provides a geographical illustration of the percentage of the overall population that is veterans. It appears from this illustration that much of the veteran population is living outside of the City of Amarillo.
Page 5-23 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Map 1 â Number of Veterans (Amarillo, Texas)
Page 5-24 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Map 2 â Density of Veterans (Amarillo, Texas)
Page 5-25 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Map 3 â Percentage of Veterans (Amarillo, Texas)
Page 5-26 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.4 Online Survey to Iden fy Transporta on Services for Veterans, Developed by the Colorado Veteransâ Transporta on Task Force The Veteranâs Transportation Task Force, a group with more than 20 members, was convened in 2010 through efforts of the Coloradoâs Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council to improve coordination of transportation for the Stateâs veterans. Veterans Transportation Task Force Survey Exit this survey Brief Survey of Transportation Services Available or Provided to Veterans in Colorado The Veterans Transportation Task Force, a project of the State Coordinating Council and the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council, is working to identify the transportation needs of veterans and the services available to them. Our goal is to identify the gaps and look for alternatives to close those gaps. Weâd like to ask the following few questions then follow up with more detailed questions if needed. Thank you so much for your assistance! 1. Agency Name and Contact Information Agency Name Contact person Phone number Email address 2. Are you aware of the transportation needs of veterans in your area? Yes No If yes, would you share your observations? 3. Do you provide transportation services to veterans? Yes No 4. If the answer to #3 is yes, do you provide special outreach specifically directed to veterans?
Page 5-27Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Yes No 5. If the answer to #3 is no, and "resources" were not the constraint, would you be willing to include veterans in your transportation services? Yes No Donât know I need more information 6. Do you have any formal or informal working relationships or associations with any of the following? Check all that apply. VA Medical Centers (hospitals) VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics Veterans Service Officers (VSOs, county-based) Veterans Helping Veterans Now Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) American Legion Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Wounded Warriors Other Veterans Organizations No working relationships or associations with Veterans organizations at this time If you checked Other Veterans Organizations, please name the organization(s). 7. If you have formal or informal working relationships or associations with any of the agencies in Question #6, please describe that relationship or those relationships. If you have formal or informal working relationships or associations with any of the agencies in Question #6, please describe that relationship or those relationships. 8. Do you ever make trips to VA Medical Centers in: (Check all that apply.)
Page 5-28 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Denver Grand Junction Albuquerque Cheyenne Salt Lake City Other We have not transported to VA Medical Centers If you checked Other, please name the VA Medical Center(s). 9. Do you provide shuttle service to a location that connects with another transportation provider that travels to any of the facilities listed above? Yes No 10. Do you make trips to VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (e.g., Alamosa, Colorado Springs, Craig, Durango, La Junta, Lamar, and elsewhere)? Yes No If yes, name the clinics that you transport veterans. 11. Do you ask riders if they are a veteran? Yes No 12. Do you offer any discounts or special services for veterans? Yes No If yes, what are they? 13. Are you aware of other providers that serve veterans in your community? Yes No
Page 5-29Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â If yes, who are they? 14. May we contact your organization to ask more in-depth information? Yes No If so, who is the best point of contact and what is their contact information? Done
Page 5-30 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.5 United We Rideâs âCommunity Transportation Options Directoryâ United We Ride is a Federal initiative that supports states and communities in developing coordinated transportation, including the provision of technical assistance and resources. One of the resources is the âCommunity Transportation Options Directory,â available at http://www.unitedweride.gov/1_934_ENG_HTML.htm This resource provides guidance for identifying existing transportation options with a template for collecting and pro�iling information about available transportation services. Using the template, the information can also be organized into a customizable directory that could be made available in print and/or electronic form. The resource has been designed to be used by any community.
Page 5-31 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.6 Two Approaches to Idenfying Strategies That Respond to Needs One approach to identifying strategies that respond to identi ied transportation gaps and needs involves listing the needs by the target groups and then listing possible strategies to meet those needs; see example below. Need Strategies of Response Veteransâ healthcare/medical appointments trip needs Provide transportation information: Collect and centralize information about available transportation services that serve veterans. Enhance existing public transit for improved service to veterans: Offer and provide transit familiarization/ travel training to VSOs and any community organization that works with veterans. Target information about available public transit services (including ADA paratransit service) to VA medical facilities, VSOs and any community organization that works with veterans. Discount public transit fares. Identify VA healthcare facilities in community and consider public transit service revisions that provide improved service (routing, schedules) to those destinations. Coordinate with other public transit services: For long distance trips to VA medical facilities, develop or improve transfer arrangements with neighboring transit agencies to facilitate regional trips. Revise public transit service to provide transfer opportunities to intercity bus service (e.g., Greyhound), which provides regional service. Coordinate with/support other community transportation services: Support DAV/VTN transportation: -Provide feeder service to DAV/VTN pick-up locations. -Improve bus stops/ locations used as DAV/VTN pick-up locations. Support available volunteer transportation services. Contact/ coordinate service with the mobility manager of the VTS program at the closest VAMC. Veterans employment/employment related trip needs Provide transportation information: Collect and centralize information about available transportation services that serve veterans. Enhance existing public transit for improved service to veterans: Provide ride-matching service and extend to DVOP and LVER staff. Discount fares. Target information about available public transit services (including ADA paratransit service) to DVOPs and LVERs. Promote public-private partnerships with employers/businesses to help fund revised transit services to better serve entry-level employment destinations. Coordinate with other public transit services: For trips beyond service area of communityâs public transit service, develop or improve transfer arrangements with neighboring transit agencies to facilitate trips to farther out employment locations. Coordinate with/support community organizations serving veterans: Identify VA-funded housing facilities for veterans and determine how public transit
Page 5-32 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â and other community transportation services could connect these locations to entry-level employment destinations. Connect individuals with transportation resourcesâmanage mobility: Designate and support a mobility manager, who would link those with needs to available transportation services, building on centralized information about services. Student veterans: trips to/from school and classes. Enhance existing public transit for improved service to local college/ technical schools: Consider public transit service revisions to provide improved service to local colleges/ technical schools. Discount fares. Provide transit pass option for enrolled students. Coordinate with/support other community transportation services: Provide ride-matching service in conjunction with college/ technical school. Consider use of new, technology-enabled real-time ride-sharing services, e.g., Lyft, SideCar. Families of veterans Support caregiving role, particularly for medical trips: Collect and centralize information about available transportation services that serve veterans. Support DAV/VTN transportation: -Provide feeder service to DAV/VTN pick-up locations. -Improve bus stops/ locations used as DAV/VTN pick-up locations. Contact/ coordinate service with the mobility manager of the VTS program at the closest VAMC. Support available volunteer driver programs. Coordinate with/support community transportation services for non-medical trips: Donate retired lift-equipped vehicle to VSOs that provide transportation. Assist VSOs apply for FTA S. 5310 vehicle, providing an accessible vehicle. Encourage/require local taxi companies to acquire accessible vehicles. Connect individuals with transportation resourcesâmanage mobility: Designate and support a mobility manager, who would link those with needs to available transportation services, building on centralized information about services.
Page 5-33Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â 5.6 Two Approaches to Idenfying Strategies That Respond to Needs (connued) A second approach is to organize needs and possible strategies to meet needs and gaps by the organizations involved. See the example in the table below. ORGANIZATIONAL CATEGORY Organization/ Category of Need Need Strategies of Response DAV and AMVET Volunteer Transportation Infrastructure Safe pick-up points for vets Work with local transit provider on bus stop amenities at pick-up/ meeting points Capitalâvehicles Need replacement vehicles and lift- equipped vehicles Invite DAV coordinators (and VAMC personnel) to apply for S. 5310 vehicle grants and provide some technical support around the application process. Information Need more volunteers Make known the volunteer application process through non-traditional (e.g. not VA) community information channels, such as service organizations. Public TransitâFixed Route and ADA Paratransit Services Service Design Access to key destinations of vets Consider service design modiÂications to ensure bus stops within ½ to ¼ mile of VAMCs, CBOCs, Vet Centers and other community clinics. Information Street-level knowledge of available transit Improve bus stop information, including basic transfer and cost information at major stops utilized by veterans and families. Consider NextBus technology at major stops or QR code capabilities to inform rider of real-time bus arrival. Infrastructure Safe /comfortable wait for transit at key destinations Develop a plan for installing bus stop improvements at key destinations. Service Design Service for active duty military personnel and families Open dialogue with military base ofÂicials regarding transportation needs of service members and families âoff the baseâ as well as âon the baseâ to further identify strategies for response.
Page 5-34 Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â Chapter 5: Additional Resources American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Veteran and Military Family Resource Center,http://www.apta.com/resources/hottopics/veterans-and-military-family/Pages/default.aspx Armed Forces Services Corporation, for the Federal Transit Administration and the National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination, March 7, 2012, A Guide to Serving Your Military Community, a Technical Assistance Document in Support of the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative, see: http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/12305_14198.html Community Transportation Association of American (CTAA), State Transit Associations Library, including a Directory of State Transit Associations, http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=3107 National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination (NRC), http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=1390&z=79 Rall, J. and A. Wheet, A Mission to Serve: State Activities to Help Military Veterans Access Transportation, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Denver, CO and Washington, D.C., January 2013, http://www.ncsl.org/research/military-and-veterans-affairs/mission-to-serve-report-veterans-transportation.aspx Transit IDEA Project 58: Google Transit Data Tool for Small Transit Agencies, Final Report, by B. Williams and P. Sherrod, PEMCCO, Inc., Transportation Research Board of the National Academies,Washington, D.C., 2011. TCRP Synthesis 63: On-Board and Intercept Transit Survey Techniques, by B. Schaller, Schaller Consulting, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2005. Transportation for Elders in Indian Country, including Crossing Great Divides: A Guide to Elder Mobility Resources and Solutions in Indian Country, developed by the National Center for Senior Transportation and the National RTAP, http://www.nationalrtap.org/Admin/AllNews/tabid/10396/token/detail/nid/13/Default.aspx 2-1-1 U.S. Home Page, http://211us.org U.S. Census Bureau, âVeterans Main:â Demographic, social, and economic data on veterans are collected through several U.S. Census Bureau surveys, including American Community Survey (ACS), Current Population Survey (CPS), and Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Data on veterans were also collected on the decennial census long-form prior to the 2010 Census. The American FactFinder tool can be used to access data products, such as detailed tables, subject
Page 5-35Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families Chapter 5 Planning: âWhat Do We Do Now?â American Community Survey (ACS). Users can quickly �ind the available products related to veterans by using the âby subjectâ or âby keywordâ search features, http://www.census.gov/hhes/veterans/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Project CHALENG, http://www.va.gov/homeless/chaleng.asp U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NCVAS) supports planning, analysis, and decision-making activities through the collection, validation, analysis, and dissemination of key statistics on Veteran population and VA programs, http://www.va.gov/vetdata/index.asp United We Ride: Resources for Assessment and Planning, http://www.unitedweride.gov/1_7_ENG_HTML.htm tables, and maps, from the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses and from the 2000 and later