United We Ride Initiative Seeks Coordinated Human Service Transportation System

Federal Transit Administration

For most of us, getting to work, getting to the doctor, or getting to church means getting in our car. But for many people, it's not that easy. There are often many challenges that individuals face when trying to "get a ride."

It's not that we - governments and community organizations - haven't tried to help. Nearly every human-service program recognizes that transportation is important. In fact, according to the General Accounting Office (GAO) Report (June 2003) there are 62 federal programs that fund transportation services. Americans - through our taxes and through our charitable contributions - spend a significant amount of money to help. Ironically, for most people who need transportation help, the creation of more programs hasn't made getting around much easier!

The GAO Report on Transportation Disadvantaged Populations (June 2003) points out that there often are multiple public and private agencies that provide human service transportation in any one community, and services vary greatly in terms of eligibility requirements, hours or scope of operation, specific destination of services, and quality of services.

One important key to using these services more efficiently is coordination. The Department of Transportation (DOT), with its partners at the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL) and Education (DoED), has launched United We Ride (UWR), a five-part initiative to enhance the coordination of human service transportation.

United We Ride intends to break down the barriers between Federal programs and set the stage for local partnerships that generate common-sense solutions and deliver A-plus performance for those individuals who depend on transportation services to fully participate in community life. The UWR five initiatives include:

• A Framework for Action. This publication was created by a panel of experts from around the country that was convened in August 2003. It is a self-assessment tool for states and communities to use to identify areas of success and highlight actions needed to improve the coordination of human service transportation. To download the complete Framework for Action and facilitator's guide, visit the Coordinating Council of Access and Mobility's (CCAM) website at www.fta.dot.gov/CCAM/States.pdf .
• State Leadership Awards. On the evening of Monday, Feb. 23, Members of Congress, top administration officials and industry leaders presented the "United We Ride Awards." These awards recognized the states of North Carolina, Washington, Ohio, Florida and Maryland for leading the way in building and implementing infrastructures, policies and programs that facilitate human service transportation coordination.
  
  (L. to R.) Jennifer Dorn, Administrator, FTA;
  Transportation Secretary, Norman Mineta; and
  Washington State Governor, Gary Locke.
• National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Education Secretary Rod Paige, and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson formally invited all states to attend the National Leadership Forum held in Washington D.C. Feb. 24-25. The forum brought together 47 governor-appointed senior leadership teams, to work to raise the visibility of transportation coordination among state leaders and secure commitments to action. The forum provided technical assistance and recognized those states that have already taken significant steps to improve human service transportation.
• Coordination Grants. States will be eligible to submit an application for United We Ride State Coordination Grants to address gaps and needs related to human service transportation. The initiative will help states enhance coordination of human service transportation programs to more effectively address the needs of transportation disadvantaged population (i.e., people with disabilities), older adults and individuals with lower-incomes.
• Help Along the Way. This technical assistance program will build on the exiting work of the Community Transportation Assistance Program (CTAP), the Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP), Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) and other stakeholder groups to provide hands-on assistance to states and communities in the development and delivery of coordinated human service transportation programs.

In February, President Bush issued Executive Order 13330 on Human Service Transportation Coordination. The Order calls for the Department of Transportation to lead in establishing an Interagency Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility. Membership will consist of the secretaries of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and the Interior. The council will also include the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Social Security, and other federal officials the chairperson of the council may designate.

We encourage you to join us in our commitment to break down the barriers in human service transportation coordination. We hope that transportation agencies, human service providers, and advocates work together to build common sense solutions.

For more information on United We Ride, please visit our website at www.fta.dot.gov .