The Wisconsin Way Inventing Coordination

Through Creativity, Flexibility, and Risk-Taking

Bobbie Beson-CroneHuman Services Transportation Coordination Program

Manager

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

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Rural vs. Urban Counties

52 rural (non-metro) counties

20 urban (metro) counties

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Wisconsin Public Transit

Transit in 54 of 72 counties, 5 reservations

Over 75% served by transit, including paratransit

A significant amount of service, too many gaps

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9 RPC’s

13 MPO’s

Wisconsin RPC’s & MPO’s

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2006 CoordinationPlanning Process

RPC planners conducted county meetings

Used UWR:Framework for Action WisDOT provided:

• Orientation & training for planners• A toolkit for planners • Admin fiscal support for meetings

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2006 Process:Lessons Learned

Non-traditional stakeholders

Inventory of resources/ providers

New county relationships

Education & awareness of available funding

>50% “did nothing” beyond ’06 meeting

No ownership by County

Reverted to old “TCC” membership

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2006 County Plans11 Priorities

1. Transportation Coordination Committee Membership

2. Transportation and/or Mobility Manager

3. Increase volunteers4. Communication

Education & Marketing5. Inter-County and

Regional Coordination6. Expanded Service

7. Technology: Centralized Dispatch, Scheduling & Financial Tracking

8. Assessment: Inventory of Capital, Vehicles, Providers & Service

9. Grants & Funding Sources

10. Customer Service: Opinion & Satisfaction Surveys

11. Increase Rural Transportation Service & Strategies

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Wisconsin Model of Coordination

ICTC hired National Consultant 4 objectives:

• Assess state agencies• Assess 8 counties 2 mini-regions• Compare WI to 8 similar states• Develop model with

implementation strategies

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2008 CoordinationPlanning Process

Developed by RPC planner/WisDOT work group

Focus on:• “Buy-in”/plan ownership

• Multi-county & regional planning

• Strategies in Plans

• Flexibility in coordination plan development

New toolkit, meeting planner/owner focus

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2008 Planning Process: WisDOT & RPC Role

WisDOT:

• Facilitated RPC/WisDOT workgroup

• Developed Toolkit for Meeting Coordinators & plan owners

• Orientation on Toolkit and 2008 process

• Doubled admin. fiscal support

RPC’s:• Consultant’s to

process• Communicated new

process to “local” entities

• Provided demographic info. and mapping

• Facilitated multi-county/regional meetings

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2008 Planning Process:Plan Requirements

Required Plan Components:

Assessment of existing service

Assessment of transit needs

Assessment of transit gaps

Strategies in Plan to remedy needs & gaps

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2005-2008 Grant Applications

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2005-2008Multi-County/Regional Planning

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Mobility Management Training Program

Focus of New Freedom funds

Co-funded with DVR

Federal transportation grants currently fund 26 mobility managers

Formal 9 mo. training program:

• Communication for shared learning

• Forum for Wisconsin based best practices

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What’s next?ICTC’s Report to the Governor

Executive Order for formalized basis for ICTC:• Dedicate staff position & admin support• Dept. secretaries are responsible for

coordination in/between agencies• Formalize SAC• Charge ICTC with making policy

recommendations to implement WI Model of Coordination

Develop pilot projects to test regional coordinated Medicaid and HST networks

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WisDOT Web Links:

Transportation Coordination: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/index.htm

2008 Coordination Toolkit:http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/transit/toolkit.htm

Wisconsin Transportation Coordination Model:http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/model.htm

Further info. contact:

Bobbie Beson-Crone, 608-266-6812; bobbie.beson-crone@dot.state.wi.us