Maryland Transit Administration Maryland Department of Transportation Coordinating Community Transportation in Maryland Presentation for the United We Ride National Leadership Forum Robert L. Smith Administrator Maryland Transit Administration

Key Coordination Components Infrastructure Support Partnerships Flexibility Bottom Line: Efficient use of available resources to provide transportation services for customers who need it most

Background State agencies attended FTA/HHS Workshop in November 1995. Ad Hoc Transportation Committee for Human Services formed in January 1996. Maryland Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation formalized through Governor's Executive Order in October 1997; charied by the Maryland Transit Administration

Committee instructed to: Examine the transportation needs of Maryland citizens who are elderly, disabled, and low-income. Coordinate Maryland's efforts to provide quality human service transportation. Devise a five year human services transportation plan. Serve as a clearinghouse for transportation coordination issues throughout the state.

Committee includes: State agencies Human Service Organizations Local Transportation Providers Regional and County Coordination Representatives

State-Level Coordination Efforts "Maryland Transportation Coordination Manual" "Inventory of Maryland Human Services Transportation Programs and Services" MTA/DHR Job Access and Reverse Commute Partnership

Regional Coordination Efforts Lower Eastern Shore Consolidation of three county transit systems into Shore Transit Regional dispatch center allows for greater coordination of region's human service transportation providers

Regional Coordination Efforts Upper Eastern Shore Five counties established Maryland Upper Shore Transit (MUST), a coordinated community fixed-route service Southern Maryland Formed Regional Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC)

County Coordination Efforts Underway in several counties Focus on coordination of specialized human service transportation funded through different sources. Efforts at various levels of implementation, from formal coordination plans to initial assessments of provders and services.

Five Year Human Services Transportation Plan Draft endorsed by Committee. Provides a review of current conditions, including the variety of programs and agencies that fund human service transportation in the State, and looks at current and growing mobility needs. Recommends future strategies.

Looking Ahead Modification of Five Year Plan for faster implementation More aggressive approach for coordinating funding, staffing, and services.