Human Services Transportation Coordination Planning
Since 2008, Commission staff has assisted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), human services agencies, and public and private transit operators in preparing Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Coordination Plans (“Coordination Plans”) for all seven counties in the Region. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) requires that a locally developed coordination plan be developed every four years.
Funding Implications
Transit projects using funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310) must be derived from the Coordination Plan. In addition, WisDOT utilizes the Coordination Plans to determine project eligibility for Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) funding.
Current Coordination Plans
The Coordination Plans are intended to provide a framework to assist community leaders, human services agencies, and public transit agencies to improve transportation services in each county and between counties. The most recent Coordination Plans were prepared in 2021 and include:
- Assessment of existing transportation needs and services in each county
- Identification of unmet needs or service gaps
- Prioritized list of strategies to address needs in a cost-effective manner
Staff obtained input on these plans from public transit agencies and human services providers, including agencies that intend to apply—or who have applied—for funding through the FTA or WisDOT, other interested parties, and members of the public. Input was primarily provided through an online survey and at a virtual regional coordination meeting held in April 2021.