THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND TRANSIT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s Values for "[C]ooperatively creating an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation network" and “[C]onsistently delivering responsive, efficient, quality services to the public and internal customers”.
In compliance with federal and county regulations, policies and procedures, this Public Hearing allows public comment on proposed changes to the Administrative Code for the creation of an Annual Transportation Disadvantaged Bus Pass (TD Bus Pass).
As background, the State's Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund (TDTF) provides a dedicated funding source for citizens deemed transportation disadvantaged. The TDTF funds are for qualified individuals who cannot obtain transportation for themselves, due to income, age, or disability. The Board, in its role as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Broward County, serves the needs of transportation disadvantaged persons. The Broward County Transportation Department Transit Division (BCT) receives annual TDTF grant funding and manages the TD program.
State Fiscal Year 2016/2017 TD grant funding was $3,804,426, which required a total County match of $422,714 ($422,610 cash and $104 in-kind). In addition to the door-to-door TD paratransit service, these funds allowed BCT to provide 22,194 bus passes to 3,948 low income TD customers.
As the program has grown, the distribution of bus passes has become a very labor intensive process. All bus passes are currently distributed on a monthly basis via U.S. Mail. By creating an annual pass that is picked up in person once a year by the customer, the transactions to distribute passes will be reduced from almost 42,000 to less than 4,000 per year. This new annual TD bus pass, which will have the customer's picture on it, will greatly increase efficiencies by saving staff time, postage and materials costs, and simplifying inventory tracking. Additionally, this action will reduce misuse of these passes and help to improve the customer experience as they will not have to worry about any gaps in coverage due to their monthly pass not arriving in the mail on time.
|