Summary August 24 2023 3rd TAC Coordinated Plan Rewrite - YouTube (Youtube) youtu.be
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Sharon Pearson Alright. Thank you everyone for coming to the third out of 4. Coordinated transportation planning meetings, by name is Sharon Pearson. I am The Lorraine County Mobility manager, and my job is to work with and collaborate with various transportation providers, government agencies, and nonprofit, other organizations to improve our transportation, in our county. There are 40 mobility managers in the state of Ohio covering 2 thirds of the states.
Sharon Pearson So this is not something new here in Lorraine County. We're doing the rewrite of this plan because it's something that we need to do We need to rewrite it every 5 years. But also, we have to... We update it every year as well to make it to lynch. To determine whether or not the roles that we have established have been successfully achieved to But what we're doing here today is looking to improve or to to rewrite the goal to determine if the current goals we have?
Sharon Pearson Are they still sufficient or do we need to write new goals? And this helps us to continue to get the funding for the mobility management program, but also for any transportation providers who are looking for to purchase vehicles to help us with improving transportation in Lorraine County. So In the past, I turned off the caption, but I'm gonna leave it on for those who may not be able to hear everything so that they can easily they see what we are saying. So... Let's see here.
Sharon Pearson See if I can do this. No. My lovely assistant match for call me here. So I wanna thank the North Family Foundation, they have provided the funding to offer the refreshments we have today and also provided the transportation 3rd people who didn't have a way to get here. So we really appreciate the fact that they did that.
Matt Next slide.
Sharon Pearson Also, we are recording this meeting. O dot requires that we have these meetings in person, but we do report it. So if there are people who weren't able to make it today, which 3rd probably quite a few because of the weather and other things. We we... You can go back and listen to it.
Sharon Pearson It will be located on the move county dot org website for you to take a look. And I will be sending it out in the newsletter. That's the reason why we did ask for your email addresses. So we're gonna add your email addresses as to our newsletter, so you're getting the updates and information about what we're doing. That's next slide.
Sharon Pearson So this is the agenda. We're gonna I'm gonna kind of recap the June thirteenth meeting We're gonna listen to an interview from a resident in Overland about his experiences with transportation, Map Brady, my lovely sent here. My coworker is gonna go over the transportation survey results. Lauren, k, I can't say her last name is. Lauren...
Sharon Pearson Yeah. Whatever. I still can't. It's gonna go over is gonna recap the swat. Part and slot analysis that we were able to accomplish last time.
Sharon Pearson So we're going to go go over the strength, weaknesses and opportunity. We're gonna look at a transportation solution because that was 1 of a request was, okay, we're talking about all these problems, but what else can we do? So I wanna show you a a sample from North Carolina, but also later on 1 from Toledo. So something local. What We are gonna break out at the end and finalize quite elisa the water analysis is looking at threads.
Sharon Pearson Do that do 10
Matt minutes of that as well. Gosh. Okay. I'm gonna
Sharon Pearson start we'll step looking outside. I'll. The next slide. So recap. So what we did...
Sharon Pearson Last meeting is we did hear a presentation from a lady who lived at medical metropolitan and housing in All malaria, She did have a car but she had a lot of experience with the people around her and the struggles that they were having regarding transportation. She has a niece that she's picking up that lives Over colonial oaks, but works at right now. And that and her niece has a c that has to walk from near Lauren County community college. Over to Ride dell at 4AM in the morning, and then she comes back at 01:30 in the afternoon. We always hear people don't wanna work, but let me tell you that's dedication.
Sharon Pearson She's walking in the dark to get work. So that video is available online. To be able to look at if you wanna see that again. We also looked at the preliminary findings from the transportation survey and the focus groups. Hopefully, the life won't go out here.
Sharon Pearson Looking well. And then we did some small group discussions looking at going over part of a slot analysis. So the next slide. I want to thank Learning County Transit because they added bicycle racks, a to their buses. And last time I was on the bus with folks from Center.
Sharon Pearson There was a lady on there we said thank you so much for those bike racks because I've been on the boss 3rd people bought brought their bikes on the boss and it was rolling over my foot. Because the bikes were in the aisle way and it was hard to get out. Alexis you were on the bus when we first saw that, That's is because of Alexis 3rd Mike Long, we were on the bus and we saw 2 people get on and they had to put their bikes right in the aisle. And I'm we were looking at it, going that's so insane. And there was an issue.
Sharon Pearson There was no way for people to escape safely. And so we asked the commissioners about getting these bikes on the buses and so weren't able to do that. Was really great was that here Williams from marin county to the health. Your here, Williams was learning how to public health who works on after transportation was on the bus at that time. And so she was so excited.
Sharon Pearson She's 1 who actually supplied me with a lot of these. These pictures because she jumped off the bus and took all these pictures she was so excited to see this. And it really gave her more insight about how trans... Transportation and active transportation really only relate to each other. 2.
Sharon Pearson So next slide. So this also a Lora lorraine or county public health along with Ali and Lora lorraine, we're able to get funding. Oh first care who's care now. From Safe routes to school. This is just a short little video that
Matt I wanna share with you regarding the amount of funding sent see pressure. Alright. You
Sharon Pearson cities that received money overland. It was there 3rd clear use clear vue... Yes. So that's over a million dollars that has come into your county. So Thank you, Larry county public health the other communities for their efforts on that.
Sharon Pearson So that's really great. Next slide. So I wanna go over what our current coordinated transportation plan goals are. These are our goals from 20 19 to 2023 23. 1 is to increase awareness 3rd transportation options.
Sharon Pearson That's a result of the fact that our first survey that we did. We got... We received over were 700 responses. And half of them said that they were not aware of what their options were in the Rain county. Second was developing the mobility management program.
Sharon Pearson The position that I have right now is the first for Lorraine county specifically that we've had. The mobility management program has been around since, like, for 2008 or so. But it was the first 1 of its kind, so we needed the timing in order to understand pouch how this program was going to work. Then explore data collections and planning. This is really a about collaboration efforts and being at the table where transportation is most likely to come off about regarding economic developments.
Sharon Pearson It's also about survey collection also about focus groups and getting that information out there and then talking with government agencies and others we're planning things let them know about what we're hearing from the general public. Coordinating educational training programs that's helping people learn how to ride the bus. But it's also about what about all the drivers that we have in Marin County, sometimes what we're finding and ed, you can tell me if this true. You have to go to Columbus sometimes to get some of that training. Is that Correct?
Sharon Pearson Yes. You know, is there a way for us to be able to have that training here locally for the drivers so that we don't have to travel that far. So there's 2 sides of that training and then exploring transportation pilot projects which we've done. A few times here to be able to understand what works and what doesn't work. And we've learned quite a bit on the pilot programs we've done.
Sharon Pearson A Any questions about those goals at all? Okay. So next, I want have you listened it's about 10 minutes to Mark Du. He is from Ob overland and He has used public transit on and off for about 20 years. So Live.
Mark Du John Frederick Golden home high rise. Yeah. High right. High rise building in over here. Okay.
Sharon Pearson And I don't know if you mind telling us how long you've been here.
Mark Du I've probably been here. For around 20 years. Oh, okay.
Sharon Pearson Alright. So tell us about transportation. What are your memories of transportation? You know, Is it you've been here for 20 years well in the past.
Mark Du Well, I haven't had a car off for a long time. And my transportation needs I used to do these... Lc bus when they had routes. And can't remember if that was why I was still working living here or not. I'm front mobile and someone memory but back for a while.
Mark Du Okay. That stopped, and I had to started using a Lc dollar right. And I've been using Dollar ride to go shopping. Okay. That to go use that to go shopping for my mother and go shopping for myself.
Mark Du And also more recently, may I still use it to go shopping. So good Walmart places like that. And I j sometimes most of Walmart. I also used it for my mother to gave my mother to her appointments in in ob 1. To clinic.
Mark Du And if different things she needed to do. And then after she moved in with me, I was doing the same thing, getting her to her doctor, getting her to her foot doctor getting into a regular primary care doctor. And it's... I used I like that. Alright?
Mark Du Mother they said, you the dollar right. Use the dollar or said that. Know, I was using move back when we 3rd routes. You know, I could go... Man, I could go to the mall and shopping around there, walk around shop I and get what I need to get for the most part and come back home.
Mark Du And that stuff. You know, I left with Dollar right. So I started using Dollar Right. And is helpful because without dollar right, I couldn't get my groceries. And that would be really hard.
Mark Du I can't go till a area anymore. Well, technically, I very hand, but I have to take the dial right all the way down there. And also you 3rd wanna add my cat to take my cat to doctor and stuff. And big things 3rd to do.
Sharon Pearson So what is it that you feel is missing from station here in Lorraine County, whether it be transit or other services.
Mark Du We don't have a regular service We used to have a service where you had bus stops. But you could pretty much flag them down anywhere long long around. And that... For the most part, that usually worked pretty good for a while, I guess folks for flagging all place those was hurt schedules. But I can get on the bus.
Mark Du I can go in the nearer to the mall. Now the mall is not pretty much not there. I guess, it's pretty well pretty months closed down, which is really weird to me because I used to be a place I used to like to go. But I couldn't I can't go in there to be shopping if I wanted to go shopping at 1 of the largest stores and and in that area. I missed that because that was almost like having the car, even even if you just wanted to go down there to relax.
Mark Du You could do that. Then I really miss having a regular bus schedule service. Because back then, you guys had maps. So I can either go somewhere. You used have big old map and you can look and you have an idea of which bus to take.
Mark Du You know, that was that was some long time but ago. Don't have that now. So I missed that regular bus service, you know, being in the over 3rd is like being in a third world because you're away from everything you you really need to get to poland and getting a few things. You got some dentistry clinton down there, and we have a community center our community health place here, which is nice, you know. But if you wanna
n/a Sorry. If
Mark Du you wanna do stuff, get the rain or stuff like that, this is difficult. You know, I guess enough they issue too is lab laptop, but on 3rd bus. And they they look on the bus and they say, oh, they're just they There's just 1 person on the bus and no 1 uses it, but it's not true. We use a lot. Is just not a lot of people at 1 time, you know?
Mark Du And a lot of folks think well, you know, that's the case. We only need that often, you know? But if you have nothing else. We can't can't know can't use it that much I basically, 3rd is veteran. Right.
Mark Du Even if I take the county counterpart to Lc or dial right and have to go somewhere a little further instead of immediate area of. I have to pay anything. Now I I... I'm still not aware of anywhere we get tickets around here, you know?
Sharon Pearson Yeah. I don't think that there is.
Mark Du The and he it's hard to find a job if you're if you're here and oakland. You know, I used to walk to make mcdonald's. And that was good for me. You know, I walking make mcdonald's. Stuff.
Mark Du And when my feet started going bad, I would try to catch the bus to get get right because I work evenings so I might get off anywhere from 11 or 12 for 3rd moving covid later twelfth, I I would get right after 12. But he's around 11:00, and I would get to bus back. And that would help me especially with my feet and stuff 3rd, you know, and things are worse now. But all those little things that help you get to where you're where you're where your work at. And even when we had bus service, I lived in...
Mark Du Malaria. I think it was. And we used to have a guy who kept the Lc bus and he didn't like anybody talking or anything because he had just barely enough time. And so you... I think I like, said, I think this was a Hilarious several years ago.
Mark Du He would catch the bus and then that bus head 3rd Cleveland where I would go, I would get off. Right, guys It's been such a long time. But I remember that he was going to a job at a clean airport. We around there. He they did inspected tires and landing gear for jets 3rd stuff.
Mark Du And he would have just barely enough time ground it wasn't enough bus 3rd that was a while ago. You know. If you need to work, it's really hard. You know, And especially if for someone like me, maybe I'm gonna be able to work again. I don't know Had to get sit down.
Mark Du Yeah. Once I get get through all these issues. I I transportation, you know, to go any job by I go, you know, especially in what wintertime. 1 thing I will say about Lc or the past decades or, like, 30 years so that 1 thing I hired about Lc. Is that during the winter time because I used to live Malaria and had to take the Lc Ct bus in North Ridge because I had a a job in a plastic factory there.
Mark Du They would never... For the most part, they would never I ring. If there if they were behind during the winter wintertime, they would keep the buses rolling. So you're not left out there on the corner cold corner of Lc used to keep rolling. And that's 1 of the thing I appreciate it.
Mark Du I only I had to stay in the hotel like once in know, because they would keep rolling even if they're hour or too behind they keep the bus enrollment until they get everybody. And that's 1 thing I even though this is a long time ago, maybe 30 years ago. It's 1 thing I admire about Lcd. You know, today, need more routes. We need we need ability to be able to go and work.
Mark Du You, that that's the biggest thing it, you know, long long time to go by saying, oh, yeah. Let's get buses and everything. You know, you'll don't need cars, you know, And yes she do You know, you need cars. And being you need buses. Otherwise, you can't get to work.
Mark Du Do you have a hard time looking for jobs, let them alone getting to it. You know, if my back would prevents me. I like to go home again. You know? Now there's a bowling alley that got down by the hospital.
Mark Du It'd be nice to be able to go to that. It you know, because I can't walk that far now. Move things like that will be nice. You know, there's a Bowling alley in watch and I like to go to towards that slate at night. So you know, I mean, Not be everything do that again.
Mark Du That's said, I can bowl again, but move things like that. I like to be able do. You know, and I can't do that. You don't have a pluses that about that. Well, the Lorraine County, you don't help have really good transit systems.
Mark Du I don't think there's much as anything in the area. The rain that's cut down 3rd and is pretty much nonexistent existent. Years ago, I was living in portland Oregon. They 3rd pretty good transportation system. I can get on that go all over playing you know, who do my job who play they stores and everything like that.
Mark Du Here, there's like nothing. You know? And you got people out in the country, they're trying to work, and they don't always have cars and without buses that are go without the country. They can't get to work either. They're you know, So what would I tell people who have cars, vote when we have the opportunity to get money for transportation.
Mark Du You know, we need it. Because when you lose your car, you're gonna you're trying to find some other ways or you get sick, you can drive it more, You get old. You gotta have some kind of bus to get you where you need to go. You know, we got a few buses now, but, you that much. If you want person to have quality of your life, be to get to even going to school to get training you can get a better job or or you make your you make yourself.
Mark Du If you want to be able just enjoy yourself, go boldly go to activities. I mean, we're... We live in Overland. We got students doing. What you call those things.
Mark Du It got all kind of activities here in Noble 1 is hard to get into. I used to be able to walk the last friday myself on middle the wall. I can't to far too good now. And the 1 good thing is to got all those chairs downtown so I can walk a little bit, sit down. You walk a little bit, sit out, but you you've go ahead takes a long time.
Mark Du And you got a lot of activities where you back quality life even if you don't have a car. And without transportation, you can't get to them. You can't get to education. It's very difficult to get the jobs, even simple jobs. You know, If you don't have transportation, you can't get into that.
Mark Du And that there's a bunch of the money when people say, oh, we tank buses, you don't, need cars. Well, they're not they're not not working too well. Pope for bills and levi that bring us money for transportation. Because being here, it's like in the third world, especially what's your help goes in.
Sharon Pearson So, just wanna make sure that you heard that video so you can hear firsthand from somebody who. Struggles with transportation and also to think about it as we go through the threats as well. I don't know if there are any comments regarding that video, Yes.
n/a Re transported how of the veterans service commission mentioned about transportation to medical appointments, and nothing a problem. We transport him quite a bit. Last time years transported was on July 20 first of this year is also scheduled for 09:26. So but then saying that he's having problems with transportation medical. We're taking care of that for.
n/a Right. So it... I mean, it kinda disappointed me that he never mentioned but I've heard. With Lorraine Benefit and Service commission is actually providing 3rd transportation. He did do his medical.
Sharon Pearson He did say that he's a veteran and he does. Get transportation and I think there might have been a sections that I might have edited out or he did mention that he does get transportation, through you. So I just... It was longer and I wanted to make sure that it was...
n/a Kinda sure. I just... Because falling on the third world. Shit is insulting to overland. Yeah.
n/a I'm not disagreeing that there's a translation issue in the Grand county. There is. Clearly. But to say that, Really time... I'm not from them.
n/a I don't have Nick on that thigh.
Sharon Pearson I am.
n/a Like just say that Overland is like the 34.
Sharon Pearson Well, the reason he's saying that He's not saying... He's saying that from a standpoint of somebody who doesn't have.
n/a Yeah. I get what you're saying, but still I've been in the third world country report. He's overly solved very important.
Sharon Pearson Right. Well, if he we need them, you know... Yeah. This we have to remember that these are people's perspectives and I don't wanna necessarily say he shouldn't say that because that's how he feels and that's the reality because he doesn't have the transportation, the way that he used to have it where he had more freedom. So I understand what you're saying, but at the same time, I guess, I wanna take the opportunity to respect the feelings that people have, I can I I don't wanna argue against the fact that he feels that way?
Sharon Pearson I tell them that he's wrong. But he did mention veterans and that he gets the 3rd ride because he has he is a better. Yeah. He did say that in this video. He did say that.
Sharon Pearson I want to recognize state representative Joe Miller. Wanna take place her coming in a and being here. I know he's gonna have to leave and go off to the place.
Joe Miller I don't have a boat. So I kind going with fair ground it's about 4 feet underwater. Yeah. 4 kids, they're gonna
n/a get their animals oxygen today now. Respond.
Joe Miller So transportation is changing not
n/a in that area with settings.
Sharon Pearson So I don't know if there were any other comments regarding this or if it was... There were some insight. Yes. He mentioned third world that was probably a little tough But that's his reality and the way that he feels because the transportation has gotten worse in his his view, because he used to have a lot more freedom, be even able to get to Cleveland can't do that anymore at all. So
Matt If not, we can go ahead and go the next minute minute.
Sharon Pearson So we're gonna ask Matt, to present... He's gonna talk about the trans... The final transportation, the data, the survey results, And also anybody who wants to... If you have questions and you wanna see more live data, he's he can share that with you as well. Yeah
n/a Alright. Good morning, everyone. So as you know, we do the annual transportation survey We're gonna go over some of the results of it. It's a very robust survey. So we're not gonna touch on everything or even a fraction of everything, but there's some interesting key points about the populations that we want to highlight this morning and then just some general things Well, a little bit of a section for you to see the overall results and chime in with comments, but it this could be, you know, could this could be a 5 hour presentation.
n/a So gonna be a little tidbit now, and then you can see the full results at a
n/a later point.
Lauren So we'll probably 3rd to show that again.
n/a Alright. Are you able to advance the screen?
Matt Yes. Okay. Copy do that.
Lauren Oops or. Where?
Sharon Pearson Area. Okay. Okay.
n/a Alright. So for this presentation here, we've segmented the data into 3 populations. 3rd looking at it with senior specific data, disabled specific data, people who have self reported as disabled, 3rd people who have self recorded as low income. We're gonna look at a few different categories for each of these populations and then just the little general overview and other findings after that. So to start, we're gonna go with the senior population.
n/a So there were 04:05 respondents to this survey throughout the county. A hundred and 48 of them 3rd being age 65 plus. 33 percent of seniors didn't know the air transportation options compared to 26 percent under age 65. So there is a little bit over of the air rest of the population who say they don't know their transportation options. 44 percent of seniors were concerned with saving money on transportation as compared to 67 percent under 65, which I thought was a very interesting point because it shows that seniors wanna get where they're going, but don't necessarily care as much as the rest of the population, how much they're spending on it or at least if they're saving money on it.
n/a And then 55 percent of senior self drive, compared to the under 65 rate of 64 percent 15 percent of seniors, utilize private pay ride, so Uber lyft, taxis, ride share like that. As compared to 28 percent of the population under 65, 64 percent of seniors Field transportation options are meeting their need as compared to 60 percent under 65. So it is slightly higher for that. Among seniors, availability and destination options were the 2 lowest scoring areas of public transportation satisfaction. So there was a question that asked you to rank through how many, like, 10:15 categories, what you're most satisfied with, and what your least satisfied with or very satisfied or not unsatisfied.
n/a They... So the 2 lowest scoring areas for seniors were availability in destination. However, vehicles, so the... Actual vehicles themselves and the drivers were the 2 highest scoring categories. And then the final slide for seniors, among seniors, the...
n/a There's another question that asked about what changes could be made to public transportation that would make it more appealing for you to take. The 2, actually, I think 3, because there was a tie categories they said would be the most appealing changes to be made to public transportation where if I could ride to other... 2 destinations in other counties outside of W County, And if there was service on weekends slash if it picked me up at my house and took me directly to where I'm going, no shared rides with others. Or the most appealing changes that could be made in the eyes of seniors. As far as commonly visited destinations for seniors medical, dental offices and hospitals and grocery shopping or the 2 highest scoring.
n/a Sharon that's pretty consistent with prior years. That's very set and stone. 50 percent of senior respondents considered themselves, low income, And then 9 percent of the senior surveyed were employed outside the home or daily volunteers, so meaning to get out of the house daily to fulfill those obligations.
Sharon Pearson And the Q7I take it referred to the question. Yes.
n/a That's the question number on survey. Thanks. So that's after every 1 of these. We'll see the survey questions later. That just specifies which question this data is from.
n/a So next are the self identified as disabled population. So this was 77 out of 4 0 3rd 5 respondents. 43 percent of them use public transfer rotation, medical senior services as compared to 17 percent of all others. So I think this really shows that this portion of people who are disabled, you know, that's still under half of them using it, but it's much higher than the rest of population. So they probably by need have to know what their options are.
n/a 31 percent of those disabled Self drive as compared to 65 percent of all others 61 percent of those disabled feel that transportation options are meeting their needs as compared to 62 percent of all others. So pretty in line with the general population, among those disabled, pickup up locations and destination options 3rd the 2 lowest scoring categories, whereas safety and drivers were the 2 highest scoring categories, So you can see, again, people really do, like, the drivers among those who reported as disabled. The most appealing changes that could be made were again, if I could ride the destinations in other counties outside of We're County, and if there was service on the weekends. The most commonly visited destinations, there were... Was again, I was trying to do the top 2, but then there was a tie for second place.
n/a So we're looking at medical slash dental offices or hospitals and grocery shopping. This 1 also having weekly medical appointments, you know, dialysis, physical therapy, for example, as a tie for second place. As you would probably expect appointments And 94 percent of the self reported disabled respondents considered themselves as low income. So now we're getting into the low income population. So 218 out of 405 respondents in the survey self identified as low income.
n/a 22 percent of them didn't know their transportation options as compared to 40 percent not reporting as low income. 33 percent of low income respondents use public medical senior transportation as compared to 7 percent not reporting as low income. I think that's a really interesting inverse there. In this survey, only 7 percent of those not reporting as low income, we're using public transportation. So know?
n/a And again, this all goes to... This is the survey data. This is the... This is just exactly what we're getting from people who have taken this survey. You 43 percent of low income respondents self drive as compared to 86 percent of those who don't report as low income.
n/a So 86 percent of people not reporting as low income are driving, only 43 percent are who are low income are driving. 57 percent of low income respondents, field transportation options are meeting their needs as compared to 67 percent not reporting as low income. Among low income respondents, the 2 lowest scoring areas of public transportation were availability and destination options, whereas safety and drivers were the 2 highest. So drivers swept this category, Kudos are the drivers. And then those reporting as low income across the board were more satisfied with public transportation than those were reporting as low income.
n/a Not sorry. Not low income. So I thought that was very interesting. In the category that showed the satisfaction with each of the categories, low income people were very satisfied at least as compared to the non low income. Among low income respondents, the 2 most appealing changes that could be made again, writing the destinations outside of Lauren County, and then service being on the weekends would be the most appealing changes.
n/a 2 most commonly visited destinations medical dental offices or hospitals and grocery shopping. And then low income respondents, 33 percent were disabled 23 percent were currently employed and 22 percent of them were retired. This is just a little what I see as an emerging trend section that I was able to pull out of the data. So kind of... Tech focused and, you know, how things could be moving in the future.
n/a 51 percent of those under the age of 35 would be more likely to pursue transportation options other than driving, if those options were better for the environment, whereas only 36 percent over age 35 I've said that. So again, you can see with the younger the younger generations, they're getting to be a little bit more environmentally conscious, which Conscious, which could be something to really be aware of going forward. 53 percent of those under 35 would find public transportation more appealing if they could request their trip electronically as compared to only 24 percent over the age of 35, so really tech focused. And then 64 percent would to use as a transportation smartphone app that's of the total population. So if everyone that responded 64 percent that they would use a smartphone app.
n/a 87 percent under age 35 said they would use a smartphone app, but still 45 percent of those over the age of 65 said that they would use a smartphone app. Which I think that was kind of telling because that population, they would... It it's really interesting to see that they would still use a smartphone app. So now I wanna go into the survey results, so we can just take a quick look over them. Any questions or comments as I'm joining this up.
Sharon Pearson 3rd any insights or based on this data? Okay Insight wise, anytime I travel.
Lauren Park my bar, 3rd then I usually
Sharon Pearson get to use their public transportation. I have been to several states and the apps are usually very, very easy and they make
Lauren my time there. Little little less stressful because,
Sharon Pearson you know, different laws in different areas, especially just recently in new orleans they have a nice piece in their at where...
Lauren Where the bus was. I doubt that
Sharon Pearson was really unique and really cool. And maybe my 6 days in enormously it's very very awesome.
Lauren Definitely ask.
Sharon Pearson You're c close. I probably need a suction.
Lauren Well, and I think something that we need to pay attention to it as Matt pointed out the response from the younger generation be under 35 because we we're concerned about brain. Right? We're concerned about our younger folks moving out of flooring county and and taking their their success in their taxes elsewhere. Yeah. So if we could find the ways to track those younger folks to stay in our county by providing these transportation options, I can tell you, if I had a reliable public transportation option, I would not for.
Lauren You I I would not. Right. I would I would use another source. So I really think that that's important glad matt pointed that out because that is something that we need to paying attention to.
n/a You know, I'm just gonna... Sorry. Fixing some tech issues here.
Matt This is so. Get to it.
n/a Let go the easy way and just do this. Alright. So to bring it back in, here we go. We've got the transportation data up from the survey So we'll, again, quickly go through this, sharing you're able to share the full results of it at a later point. Right?
n/a So we'll share the full results, so you can really dive into it more if you want. Just a very quick overview of everything. So what types
Lauren are they seeing? Yes? Okay.
n/a Yep. I'm sharing it. Okay. What types of private public, or eligibility based transportation options, have you 3rd family member used in the past 12 months. So non segmented, you'll see self driving, it's actually a little easier if I go down here, if you can see those numbers well enough.
n/a So majority, 58 almost 59 percent we're self driving with the borrowed vehicle, still leaving 41 percent not driving. Biking 3rd walking, ride, chair, Car friends, just keep in keeping in descending order, paper ride, some others, Medicaid, private insurance, fixed local route, learning county office on aging, fixed route, cross country, and then Lauren County veteran in service mission medical transportation. So do you feel transportation option available to you are adequately meeting your needs. We've got the why why not answers we won't get into because that would take a few hours. But we've got 61 3rd a half percent saying yes, 43 percent almost 44 percent saying no.
n/a And I know those don't add up. I guess you could choose both yes and no and some people did. So that's why those percentages aren't quite right. Is public transportation or medical senior services, transportation and option for you. So we'll see 21, almost 22 percent, say, yes, I use it.
n/a 20 percent, Yes. But I don't use it. 16 percent. No. It's not available where I live.
n/a 8 percent, no, It does not go where I need to go, 4 percent saying, not available the days or times that I need it. Only 1 person saying, no the wheel... The vehicles are not wheelchair walker accessible. And then 29 percent saying, I don't know what my options are. And then no 1 saying that it's on a court.
n/a If public or medical slash senior services transportation is available, but you do not use it, please select any of the following reasons that apply. Majority of the answers were I have my own current prefer to drive, I guess not majority, 45 percent. Some saying I do not qualify that I don't know how to use transportation available, my friends and family members driving me where I need to go, then I can't afford 3rd. So if you who set it on that 1. If any other transportation option except driving were easy to use and available to you and or your family, which of them following would cause you to use the service.
n/a If it was convenient easy to schedule, almost 60 percent. If it would save money, 57 percent I were not capable driving cell, 56 percent and getting under 50 percent. If I don't have another transportation option. We'd have to say something.
Sharon Pearson Yeah. That... People could choose more than 1, so that's why I'm not gonna add up to a hundred percent on this.
n/a Yes. So better for the environment, if it's... If it provided wheelchair walker successful vehicles, other and then very, very low, amount of people saying I would not use public private or other transportation under any circumstances states. Very deep. Regarding this is...
n/a I won't get totally into this, but this is the satisfaction with all of the different areas. You can see we had cost availability, destination options, pickup options, drivers, vehicles, timelines ness, scheduling, reliability, safety and ease of use. These scores over to the right show how high overall the weighting was for those answers. Kind of going back to what I talked about with the segment in populations, the 2 highest scoring here for everyone were drivers and safety, And then a few pretty even below that. What changes would you make public transportation...
n/a What changes would make public transportation options more appealing to you? Down here. Top 2 answers were tied. If I could ride the destinations in other counties and if there were service on the weekends, but getting down below that the next few top answers where if fixed out buses were available in my area or came more often, they pick me up at my house and took took me directly where I'm going, no 3rd rides. If services started earlier in the morning or ended later at night, it if bus or ask bus stops and bus schedules were easy to easier to understand, If I could request my trip through an app or website not just on the phone, if And then if it was more reliable on time or picking me up, dropping me off.
n/a The bottom view answers here are Am satisfied with transportation service options available, if they offered wheelchair 3rd walker accessible vehicles and nothing could make patient service, options appealing to me, but only 6 percent at that. So there's hope if a Smartphone app was available, and easily was available to easily schedule public or eligibility based transportation, would you use it? Yes, I would use it was almost 64 percent and And then 10 percent, almost 11 percent did say I would use it, but don't have a smartphone. So that's an interest insight that almost 11 percent of the respondents did not have smartphones. Just which of the following are the most commonly visited destinations, when transportation is available to you, grocery shopping, medical dental, general shopping, social recreation activity.
Sharon Pearson Social has been number 4 across the board for the leg. For the last 5 years. Mh
n/a Yeah. That has not changed even through Covid interestingly. Work interviews 3rd job training next.
Sharon Pearson That has... That used to be in the eleventh. Well... 5 years ago, wasn't even... It was in the top 20.
Sharon Pearson Last year was like number 11. So that's very interesting seeing that that is moving up into the top 5
n/a Yeah. That's... That is really interesting. Weekly medical appointments, pharmacy, faith based organizations, And then down here, we've got counseling 3rd treatment, rehab and school slash. What city cities do you travel to the most for the following.
n/a These will be able to send out a good breakdown of them. It would take a long time to kind of go through them as it is right now. But it had people give open ended responses to each of these for where they go. They categories. Which of the following do you use most often to get transportation information that you need So smartphone and apps and text information at 42 percent, phone call transportation providers for information at 31 percent and then the next was transportation provider websites at 21 percent Down below all under 15 percent I ask a friend 3rd family member, public agencies, refer to the printed Lee County Transportation guide, phone call 211 3rd faith based organization.
n/a Next, are you familiar with the Lorraine County Mobility management program which helps residents find transportation options to get from place to place. Hopefully, they say yes after taking the survey. But in this, yes was only 14 percent and the no was 86 percent. So more work to be done just to get the information out there, so people know about how to find the resources they need. Where do you currently live?
n/a You can see majority, Lorraine and As you'd expect with the good representation of the county, And then some of the smaller cities down here. But pretty well represented across the board for most places, at least according to population size and count size. How old are you? You can see the breakdown of this. Very few under 18, 18 percent to 24 was 2 percent, 25 percent to 34, 10 percent, 35 percent to 44 percent 12 percent and then it really...
n/a You can see it best from here. Majority did end up being towards the they're gonna need the Spectrum here, but all in all fairly representative. K. Then primary language spoken in the household, English, of course, not being the number 1, Spanish had a view respondents. Do you have a disability which requires you to use a cane walker wheelchair and or other device?
n/a 26 percent said, yes. So I... That's a pretty high amount, I think for this representation. That was quite a few people who did have that, which also speaks to the answers before where people were asked if they would use trans... Rotation options and an option for no was no they're not accessible to me.
n/a So I think it shows that the options that we do have are pretty accessible because people a fair amount of people said that they need a mobility item, but very few people answered negatively about that. Do you consider yourself a personal of low income? 54 percent, yes, 50 or 36 percent no. This is a little breakdown of how they self describe and it was a pick 1. So employed outside the house work from home home.
n/a Retired student unemployed on ssi disability and other can see employed outside the home, retired and on Ssi disability were the 3 highest. And then this next 1 is just giving their name for more context. So that is a very, very quick and brief overview of all the data.
Lauren Thanks, man.
n/a No problem.
Sharon Pearson Any comments on the data?
n/a I saw you down everything they live. And you guys. You also identify where the people that are working, where they're actually working.
n/a Yes. The 1 question that asked... Where do you go for the following. There's a work option and they're all open ended response, so it was little. So where I assume enjoy the people are working malaria of the rain?
n/a I need to look through the data to see Sharon, do you off the top of your head?
n/a Because, I mean, we know the majority of the respond around around rain. I assume that's worth they're living. It's where they're saying they're responding.
Sharon Pearson Yeah. Most of them are responding Gloria, Learning. Right.
n/a So the next question I would have, is where those people living so that we can identify on getting those people that want work to the places they're working primarily So that's why I was asking. Do you have that where they are working?
n/a Not available yet, but we will send that out. Way destination.
n/a That would tell us where we need to put the transportation the most of thing.
Joe Miller Well, we
Sharon Pearson did run a pilot because we were finding We did run a pilot with To and Avian over in Avon Lake, and we were taking people from Lorraine and Area over to those. Places because we were in finding from England and I was surprised where we did look at their anonymous list of where people were living we're already living in learning Lea, We were trying to create transportation for even people add cars.
n/a Yeah.
Sharon Pearson The opportunity to use this transportation center to go over there. So that is what we are finding that, you know, people specifically lorraine L, but we've been hearing a lot even from. Ob overland that they want. They need to get up north. And we just don't really have that connection to get all the way to Avon lake.
n/a I I've heard... Wasn't there rep? Shut down couple years ago. No?
Sharon Pearson No. No. They they have an on demand service that's through County transit. But they they do it for work, but they only go up
Matt to, like, route 02:54.
Sharon Pearson For their on demand service, but it is for work this operates from 6AM to 6PM, and then 9 to 12 to get that that leads.
Lauren Mh. And this I do have a question with this Spanish being so low. Does that mean
Sharon Pearson that record 3rd alleviate gate put into this? We did create some of the surveys in Spanish, I will say that we probably didn't do a good job with reaching out as we should have. So that's something that we need to look at because we do the survey generally every year so that we can just understand what's happening. So it's it's a segment of the population we need to do a little bit better at reaching out to. Right now, we're trying to even get the transportation guys.
Sharon Pearson Convert it into Spanish, so we can
Lauren hand those out. Alright.
Matt And I mean, if you
Sharon Pearson have any other questions, you could you could talk with Matt, and he could get some more data for you to. Karen. Yes?
Tiffany Hey. Good morning, everyone. This is Tiffany over at Lorraine County Transit. And I just wanted to make a comment in regards to the feedbacks 3rd picking up individuals on time. And that is a multi...
Tiffany Prong approach. So some of the issues that we run into as far as our fixed route being on time is the number of pickups and drop off how long it takes for somebody to get on or how many individuals are sliding the driver down to stop. See as far as getting off the bus. So we can't factor that in. I ideal phone calls all day long, know, the bus is 5 minutes late, where is it?
Tiffany And Those are variables I can never anticipate or control. And we've also run into issues on more than 1 occasion with making sure that we have our passengers for dial ride that are in motorized wheelchairs that those are anchored and secured properly before we move to the next destination, again, not something that we can factor time in on. And if an individual is scheduled for a pickup and they don't come out on time, you know, the drivers are very curious and they will... Extend that wait time on a regular basis as far as you know, we'll give them an extra 5 minutes or or whatever. But all of that is a chain effect as the day goes on.
Tiffany So I know it's frustrating for the individuals that utilize our services. But we try to accommodate everyone all of the time. So it's there has to be a little bit of flexibility and understanding for the people that use our services as well.
Sharon Pearson Yes. And maybe what what needs to happen is that we need to or I can as mobility manager. Be able to manage the expectations. That's what, you know, because we can't change that portion of it, but what we can do is educate because that was 1 of the buy goals on educating, on educating people because I think as you can see, people don't want to share a right. That's not gonna happen we want to be efficient 3rd efficient and effective of in our transportation service.
Sharon Pearson But they're expecting to have an Uber like service 3rd that's
Tiffany it's an unrealistic expectation unfortunately.
Sharon Pearson So that's... I think that that is something just to think about as we're going through the threats. As to how how we can address that. So. Any other comments
Lauren okay. Read back. You should
n/a be back up there. Okay. A minute.
Lauren Why is this number.
Sharon Pearson Okay. Sorry. 1 minute. Oh, is it. Because I'm not.
n/a I it looked like it was moving on Zoom but not in person. Part of the... Book, that's beginning.
Sharon Pearson Sorry about this. We shouldn't where Lauren is. Okay. Alright. We're gonna move on
Lauren Lauren. Come.
Sharon Pearson She she's moving in place. Lauren kaye, she can say her last name ring again for other. These. Is gonna go over our strength we and opportunities that we're discussed at the last Hitting. So Lauren, I will advance it.
Sharon Pearson Alright. To the next slide.
Lauren There we go. I just wanted to put our recap, you know, last time we ever removed small and 3rd out on our strengths. Weaknesses as an opportunities for transportation oriented. But it's kinda of wanted to do a quick recap and kyle means folks, you know, share share it, So anything we miss. But in terms of our strengths, 1 of the a big theme we saw was infrastructure collaboration.
Lauren So we have an infrastructure. We have we we have
Sharon Pearson a lot of providers that are willing
Lauren to work together that are are networking with 1 another. We have several communities in we're county individually. That 3rd exploring alternative differences for patient by browse adding those types of things. We have community based program aimed their our 3rd that like bi our program You know, that they do at community action, you know, some sub program dollars and emergency assistance funds out there also at our repairs, you know, when it is important for me individual, you'll gets work. 3rd you, get in place support you know, you do a car repair.
Lauren We'll mean have generally a strong community buying it. As far as from our government leaders, our non nonprofit leaders, our residents, we have The community note they have an issue and those we need the 2 solve it. So we have that momentum. We have that ready to go really need to take advantage of that. And then another thing that we saw today in this meeting, you know, we're seeing to some of the interviews.
Lauren Lc has experience with more rats because they ain't done more routes in passing and we know was successful. And we also know the Lc gets buried to my customer service parks from their riders and I can speak with experience 3rd drivers are very, very lonely. When I wrote lost they were great, and I've gotten my notes of the drivers because my new office locations right next sort, and they're really good people over there. So those were some of the strengths? Can anybody think of anything else that maybe we didn't reflect up here that we talked about last time.
Lauren I would say the fair structure? Oh sorry. Another other 1. Yes. K.
Lauren Me as the strength. Has strength because if you have a process for certain folks being agree, progressive demand price, you know as a place to start. Okay? Right. K.
Lauren Alright. Looks. Minus is this word.
Matt There we go. Weakness. Okay. A lack
Lauren of service capacity. So again, we need to have the loan. I'm gonna seal phrase My how we have the bones, but we need the meat to put on the bones. So we have the provider we have a lot of providers that wants to help.
Sharon Pearson We have a lot of bosses that
Lauren are I'm saying. We we have, you know a lot of you assisted living in independent living facilities they have buses, you know, that they transport, but they don't run all in the time. So we we have we have some... We have some opportunities there. We have very little no service in rural areas.
Lauren South of Overland there there is no no fix the router or anything like that. We don't have a 1 stop location for transportation information, We're working at it. But you know, if everybody knew, transportation or in Canada, done it up blank, United way or whoever it is, you know, there's we need to 1 central location for people to get accurate, consistent good information. And then we do have technology barriers. Obviously, you know, we have a mixed population in Warren County and some are gonna be very welcoming to technology others are not at.
Lauren So we do have to be aware of those. You their ex experience when Transit is... Bus 3rd signage. There's a lot of old signage out there. Some of the muscles are not labeled.
Lauren Or don't have numbers 3rd the numbers are not easily visible. And then the transit system could be available intimidating to use. If you've never used it before, it. You know alignment 3rd buying the information. Sometimes that can be challenging.
Lauren There's a lot of information out there it's kind of hard to tell which is which is good and which is which is old. You know, cash only, you have to use exact change in the stuff you're not always announced. So there's a lot of challenges to action. And that experience. And then the infrastructure, bus routes may evaluated to see our routes really going to the place they need to be going into or are we just seeing this is the mark there.
Lauren And then, you know, we've got a lot of leadership turnover in in a community and sometimes kind of it's really hard to get momentum. They when you have a kind of turnover to to be able to get if is going. Anybody else that be consistent add.
Matt Wanted things just I think it's missing is you don't have the funding to implement what you need. Yes. Yes. Well, I put that in service risky passed. Because you're you're right.
Lauren We have to bone. We don't have to be. I I mean the meat is is money. I... I'll come out and say, change money.
Lauren Absolutely.
Sharon Pearson So Alright.
n/a His is studied 3rd done to say what amount money do you need to put this together?
Sharon Pearson We 3rd back in 20 18, there is an organization called Move marin County, Alexa sits on that. And They are in the Advocacy organization. It was before Alexis was on it. We'd like to compare ourselves geographically to Lake county. Lake County has a wonderful transit system.
Sharon Pearson And at that time, they were spending 13000000 dollars Mh. But they have a dedicated sales tax, and they were able to get their community to vote for it. That's where the challenge comes in for the lorraine county. We have been struggling with getting people to vote for it. So that's the reason why we don't.
Sharon Pearson Have it because we don't have a dedicated sales tax. And that's the reason why we had to go from 16 routes down to 4, which are really 2 routes back to back. And because we can't get anything passed in a Lauren County. Because if getting in my hands
Lauren 3rd getting it on the island.
Sharon Pearson Getting it 3rd. No. It's been on the ballot. Yeah. It's been out the valid about a half a dozen times.
Sharon Pearson It has not been a sole issue on the ballot though. It's always gonna
Matt I never something or valid to said transportation. He was a mixture of learning. Mh.
Sharon Pearson Sort way
Lauren down about as just.
Sharon Pearson It is now. There was a... There's been a change in the how how you see back then, you can only... You 3rd to have a quarter percent sales tax. It had that was the lowest amount.
Sharon Pearson It had to be, and that's where some of the discussions were. Where elected officials and others in Ci to eye because they thought that was too much money gorgeous 1. Now, I think in 2017, they changed it. So now it's 1 tenth of 1 percent. Could be dedicated for something like this.
Sharon Pearson And so if we would have had that in 2016 we could have done a quarter 4 percent firm. Yeah. We... A quarter percent sales tax dedicated to 3rd we might have got been able to get
Matt it tax. It was a lower amount? Yes.
Tiffany Do we know what the income ratio is from Lake County compared to Lora lorraine County? Because In regards to that sales tax?
Sharon Pearson We do not. I mean, I don't know off the top of my head, but I remember we did... I thought we looked at all of that, but maybe we just looked at the geographic area because it was urban and rural. And about the same size. It's a little bit smaller but, you know, population wise a little bit smaller, but I don't know we looked at the income level.
Sharon Pearson Okay.
Lauren And III can stick to that too. So in the aging network, are kind... Part within our aging network is also lake county, so we do do a lot of kind of comparison. Geographically, again, income wise, I can I can say that pretty clearly that lake county has a higher, you know, variable capita it's quite a bit higher? But, you know, comparing geography side those types of things, we are a good good cares.
Matt Okay.
n/a It's question.
Matt Yes. So if we got something from the ballot of, what percentage will we have 3rd to meet our financial needs. We know that.
Sharon Pearson That is something that we wouldn't have to have a discussion with the elected officials that are in charge of right county transit determine what
Matt they would feel comfortable with? Because From our perspective, what do you need?
Sharon Pearson It depends on where we want to service. Do we want to service the entire county?
Matt If it meets the needs of certain that your
Sharon Pearson that like I said, in 2018... And 2000 way back 02:18 or before, 2017, it was 13000000 at that time, but we all know that prices cost 3rd on it. So I I can't even come close. It would be over 13000000. We would
Lauren need. Mh
Sharon Pearson So... Alright. So you wanna go on to... This is our last opportunity opportunity... Before we we're gonna do threats today too.
Lauren Opportunity. So I believe it's kind of I can see a beat from strengths. So my the community leader, me, have a strength and an opportunity in this community because we do have the community interested the community is getting invested and certainly the community leaders are getting invested as we can see from the server right Here. Our grassroots efforts. So, you know, share briefly mentioned, boom, you know, that that I started and the was middle late teens.
Lauren 3rd and it's if we're we're gaining momentum. You know, the momentum is here, I mean, I moving lori Tiny entire life. And I can say that I haven't seen this kind of momentum minimum around 1 issue and 3rd maybe ever, but it's certainly quite a long time. And So the opportunity, you're looking at micro transit systems in Lauren County, which I believe we're gonna get a little bit of piece up later. Gives systems some working together.
Lauren So our systems are starting to work together, government, hospitals, employers the education, students immediate fall in the room. Government, you know, for the funding peace hospitals, healing hospitals, we get a call the outside all time from getting people to and from doctors swimming and deployments 3rd things like that. You know, working with the hospitals, can we make this work, employer says Sharon mentioned, you know, doing the workforce habits and educational, institutions like Lc, schools, habits, things like that, accessibility, moving 3rd maybe, you know, purchasing online bus tickets, you're scheduling your ride, online, having online routes 3rd schedules. Plus signage, you know, now having the drivers announced the sucks. And as we're doing now, engage the community solving the problems any other tasks
n/a And a question. I'm I'm unsecured enough driver, could that be a problem? I mean, if you're gonna expand and you know, you look around a lot of buses school bus home. Yeah.
Joe Miller Well, and that you in Bay clothes
Matt Yeah.
Sharon Pearson That is a problem. Might I go to a couple of transportation conferences and that is a... There's a constant seminar component. Hiring drivers. So and in retaining, and I know those organizations that Have had the high 3rd drivers, No.
Sharon Pearson Wesley village. Off find aging. They're going. They've all struggled.
Lauren It's... Yeah. It's... I haven't had 2 bright cat It doesn't make trouble. Because of the type of individuals with the servicing.
Lauren Number 1. Yeah. They don't need secure about their abilities to service like, the element populations such large. And the training, we can go offer some potential training. Well, 3rd many of us are not rockets 3rd regions who are not correct that positive.
Lauren Okay okay. Right. Definitely funding. Goes back to funding.
Sharon Pearson So think of that's a threat. Catch. You may want to thinking of. As well as we go through that? Anything else regarding opportunities?
n/a Does Lc. Does you wanna help if county... Sends money from the general fund operated?
Sharon Pearson Yes. That's what... That's exactly how it's made for.
n/a 3rd you have idea from
Sharon Pearson Chip, you're on the line. I... Isn't it 1500000.0. That's things said
Lauren right now?
Tiffany I would have to look.
Sharon Pearson I don't quote me off the
Tiffany top of my head I'm coming off of a ross night of the storms and my brain is mush. I can look into that and get back to you. I don't... I honestly I don't want to give you a bed. 3rd figure, and I I truly don't know off the top of my head.
Sharon Pearson I wanna say it's 1 or 1500000.0 that's the. Right? 1...
n/a I'm just wondering because... Add
Sharon Pearson but she can get back to... Tiffany works at learning...
n/a Those things where if can do this, maybe you roll Lc lcd. Into it somehow. So that you have that money, that the 3rd already spending on on a train rotation system
Sharon Pearson Well, they are they are utilizing some some things in order to make the... The most of their service. I know that they provide medicaid transportation, so they're able to tap into that because they do have funding that requires a 50 percent match. And when it can get that other 50 percent from elsewhere, whether it be private organizations or other service organizations like Medicaid or even veteran services. They're able to use that to match to pull down money.
Sharon Pearson So So that is being looked at. It's 1 of these things where I think government entities, non nonprofit organizations and the commissioner of all needs to have a common. Conversation about what the needs are to determine how do we make this work together? Yes.
n/a X. You know, in terms of buy. 3rd kind of backing up that. Is there an opportunity potentially to have full communities, like instead of subs solely through and attacks issue invalid have communities that bind to buy in also. They're like the invest letters, you know, percentage or doing their own local things or security brands, like kind of a combined effort versus 1 fell swoop on the thousand?
Sharon Pearson I believe that there are opportunities create what's called transit districts, so that if like Lora lorraine and All malaria want to just go in and work together, but that's an opportunity, create And so that would be something that maybe the city managers and Mayors association could have a discussion about Because that's the tough part is that, what there is a certain population that is not gonna vote her because they're saying we're never gonna see. So why should we port it. And that colony is the truth. I mean I I wouldn't I, you know, I can't say that, hey, if you pay for this, you're gonna see it for I think part
Tiffany of the problem with the failure of the the sales tax dedicated to transit over the years has been there was never an outlined plan. You, the money is going to go to the following aspects of transit. It was just presented as it's going to transit. It didn't outline how it's can expand it, what services it's gonna make new, it just was never outlined properly.
Matt That's perfect.
Tiffany As a taxpayer, I'm not gonna to vote for something if I don't understand how the money is gonna to be dispersed.
n/a Well, you might have an opportunity because. If commissioners, 3rd, our company called future Iq, I believe, and they're starting conversations about developing the strategic plan who want how the best serve capital. So I've didn't invited you to a meeting know, I first week to September. We'll talk about veterans news report. And to pick piggyback on your failure appears that I think you need to have a route and the plan to go.
n/a I have always found that taxpayers payers believe on don't mine paying taxes as long as a deal is going for good pause. If they can't understand what she said. Then the answer is absolutely not. Right. So...
n/a Yeah, now Now you have potential now because they're trying to develop a strategic plan going forward. And this can be part of that transportation in the county. And not to throw my good friend, Joe Miller under the bus. But is there anything that you heard on the state level that the state might do not but I would expect know right now. But about state funding that don't kick in money, who like managing.
Joe Miller So there's... That's a... It's a lot to unpack because you're looking at low income and senior sports, and mean then you're also looking at economic development. Which is a big thing that really is their focused. I hate to say that their focus is.
Joe Miller We wanna get people to work. If we happen to pick up some seniors 3rd low income who don't have vehicles hate grain. And that really is a dark answer. But what I think I think whoever in the county is has the idea. Up the...
Joe Miller Has the idea of this... We're gonna start with where is the demand for
n/a job. Job. Where do we have our
Joe Miller highest working populations going to. So if you have out there in Colorado, you have a big... Becomes a big industrial center. Where lots of people working under a roof or whether it be manufacturing, whatever. We need to be that be part of that route.
Joe Miller So I think it's going to take a county, quite approach asking for draw from the state. Think that's really what's gonna drive it. The only time you're gonna have the state come in is when Jobs Ohio, and the the governor or the the economic development division under the governor apartment development come together and say, hey. We're putting in an intel, 3rd new Albany. We need to get people from Newark, we need to get people from downtown Columbus, to that billion dollar invested site.
Joe Miller So they have transportation. So they're working in plans for transportation routes in the infrastructure build out. But that's when you drop a billion dollar investment in the middle of Ohio. We don't have that. So we have to have a local plan that says this is.
Joe Miller This is what we're building out. This is our kind of our economic view and this is our transportation view. And somewhere along line, we've got to beat into the needs of the elderly and the low income who don't have that transit system Unfortunately, I I believe we're we're focused at here in the United transportation views are is not where the states at. They're at immensely economic development. We're at the most needed those who are in the most needy.
Sharon Pearson And the reason for that is good primarily the... And Yeah. The funding that I'm... Sure that funds my position, the focus is specialized transportation 53 10, which is a focus on seniors. People disabilities these.
Sharon Pearson And that workforce also is a part of that because it was folded into the 53, 10 program back in 2016. So we do kind of work on that, but our main focus are
Matt those most at me.
n/a I wanna thanks, Brett Miller. Human way of explaining things and maybe it has to do with your previous.
Joe Miller Most of my post has I'm trying to explain stuff.
n/a He he has a way of explained and von. I think the... When I spoke from what growth what the representative said was we need to sell it as not primarily for, like, I don't wanna say, you don't care, but we're not here. The primary book purpose 3rd translation is not to help all retired people. This help you get work.
n/a Mh. That's what's gonna get the state's extension. So that fourth item that you show where it's... You said we used to be in the top 20 now is it's 4. Mh people looking forward, combine that with the question I asked earlier, then saying, okay, we know where they're living, the lea and lorraine.
n/a Where 3rd they working in. And then sell back to this That's what I took. Yes. From him. So if you're actually having a bond group, think about how you're going to sell it as an economic development thing, we're not as interested in transporting 3rd or disabled.
n/a At the end of the day, we can work at it. I think that's what we do.
Joe Miller And I think that feeder, I think what we do is at a local level... Where we're, like, oh, okay now we need to feed into that economic loop of moving workers. And guess what? As we head over to ford we're other board, obviously not a good example, let's try different 1. But as we head over to another location where there's a high need 4 low income wages, jobs.
Joe Miller They're usually paying low income. Wages is the reason why they're not able to have their own car. We can 3rd stop at the hospital. Stop the vehicle. We can stop at the different locations that are needed.
Joe Miller And the youth... I mean, they would... They knew they can jump on a bus gets to the community college and take their classes. They would do their homework on their phones or laptop. They would even they would love that.
Joe Miller Yeah. They don't wanna drive except my boys because, you know, only cost money and I think they just wanna to spend.
Lauren Part of that essentially said absolutely know use it.
Matt We're they're
Lauren far that perception say they were absolutely never we'll use yeah.
Joe Miller They They've been empirical and they see the advantages in on trans.
n/a Very important. Yeah. Thank I appreciate... Yeah. I just...
n/a And I just... Looking at the server data that was like, even the categories age, on specific, the top needs our medical dental, growth rates So, like, I think we kind of collectively understand that. If those needs are being met. Right? And people have to spend their time monitoring resources to devote finding transportation to those, they're gonna have time, to go, you know, to do devote that to traveling for work on for job going into college training
Lauren Well, as
Sharon Pearson you're all saying, we could really do both. If we we need all of this. Right? But if we sell it to the elected officials that an economic development because, you know, those aren't... Those times necessarily people are going to work or not in between those times there's a lot of time.
Sharon Pearson Right?? To be able to go to medical? And grocery shop name. So that and we sell it 1 way, but we know that it's our goal is is to solve the real need?
n/a You can't give people to work real need. So you... When you sit you gotta say, oh things. You if you're standing up in front of people, you... People are going to know when you're not being true I guess.
n/a So the what you're saying up selling it, you effectively in your early parts then getting people work is the real need.
Sharon Pearson And you know what? I I'm I miss folk when I said that because the American Public Transportation association says every dollar does public transportation generates. 4 dollars in economic activity. I say that all the time. You're absolutely right.
Sharon Pearson I sit on the marine honey chamber board. I know that. I know that. However, we 26 percent of our population 3rd seniors.
Lauren Mh. We have a large group of people living in
Sharon Pearson the Southern part of County. We have a lot... A lot of people not getting some medical. They're quality of life is horrible. We...
Sharon Pearson All of these things like you said are real needs. So at least you're not mistake. You know, what I have said to say that 1 thing is better necessarily than the other.
Matt I apologize. Just to recap you said it saying no, is what we're selling ness to the people we need to sell to, we have to focus on economic development. Yes. And as we develop the plan, you wrote in the things need to address to the state.
Sharon Pearson 3rd that's what I was trying to say.
Matt You have to consider
Lauren your honor. Of course, You know, when you're looking at county, Yeah. The first thing that that any elected official be happening.
Matt Have a sense successful 4 economy course jam. And also, so do we need to add 2 weaknesses that we don't really have a structured plan yet and so we need. Because when you're selling it, you have to sale that you have a plan and you actually know how much approximately how much money money is gonna take so that they know that you have really... And you know your data and you know what you need, and you're representing the public. So maybe that's a weakness that you don't have a structured plan for another, funding that we needed.
Sharon Pearson And that would be a great opportunity for moo. How needs to also look at and help form
Matt You can do that we not we do that.
Sharon Pearson So let's move on. We're running out of time here.
Tiffany Can I? You gonna answer your question.
Matt You Yeah.
Tiffany You can ask what the commissioner contribution is for our budget? It's 300000.
Sharon Pearson Well, that's their contribution though they're... But they're they're using that money to leverage other funding.
Tiffany We utilize federal state and local macs from other agencies, but the commissioners out of the general fund give us 300000.
n/a I mean, that's
Matt a problem. Yep.
n/a That 3rd and it probably should be recognized as such. I can tell you that my organization had of group Lc, I believe you're do. And quarter pay transport effectiveness, 3rd we're supposed to pay them. I've asked for a bill. I've got go from 3 years.
n/a So when you say that there's holes, yeah that's what we need consider. I can tell you when I started a my job, we were paying like, there over 20000 dollars a month. To transport veterans I did the math that this 4 dollars in a mile. My guys, I can make government more efficient by hiring more government employees to transport veterans, I can do it for less than a dollar 25. Are those numbers 3rd about a year, 18 months old, but is probably a little bit higher on both ends.
n/a So making government efficient is fine. If a good system developed Right? I'm still paying about 4500 a month pair, I've reduced it by quite a bit. But if you if... This...
n/a If there was a very good system. Right? When high drivers couldn't do it, we could go to this a system and start paying that's reliable system to do that. Instead. So that's money that's going to life there, let's say, 5000 dollars a month as well high as still by 60000 dollars a year that could be going to an outside system.
n/a Taking help. So I think we need to look at if you're gonna do it. I think we need to work with all the people that are paying.
Joe Miller All the
n/a community homes or what ad?
Sharon Pearson So what I wanted to do here right now is show you this video because we we talk about a lot of the problems. But I wanted to provide some hope for what can happen because I know at 1 of our meetings before somebody said, we bring somebody in to tell us about how they're doing in another community? So there are 2 videos actually. This is 1. It's a program...
Sharon Pearson Called Via, and it's an on demand service. And I just would love for you to hear what you're doing and get your input on this
Lauren Now to offer local perspectives, we have the City of Wilson chief Planning and development officer Roger Lent. Roger, welcome.
Roger Lent Thank you. Good morning, everybody. There it is. Alright. So I wanna talk to you about how we've applied some of this in Wilson, North Carolina.
Roger Lent Eastern North Carolina very small North Carolina City in our eastern coastal plane if you're not familiar with it. Today, I'd like to talk about 3 things, ride, New transit system that we've employed. I want to talk to you about how we've gotten green ways and passed going for that active transportation and how we're really focusing on taking old roadway that really were not done in a contextual way and redo them Let me talk about ride. So we have a long history of transit service in Wilson. Fixed route system that covered just about 40 percent of the city, it was really designed at a time when downtown was a center of commerce.
Roger Lent Right? You 3rd the old tobacco warehouse jobs that people got to. You had agricultural different jobs there that don't exist anymore. Those are in corporate parks where we have pharmaceutical companies and all that on the edge town. So we had to rethink about how do we do transit.
Roger Lent Our bus only ran once an hour. So I want you to take a second and imagine yourself in this situation. Your transit dependent, low income. You're at your job, maybe you're working as a waitress or waiter or some other service job that's low pay and give a child in the the daycare care. You get the call that they're sick.
Roger Lent K. How do I get that child? Right? If you're transit interdependent, you look at your watch, it's gonna be 45 minutes for the next bus. So you get wait.
Roger Lent Get on that bus and in Wilson where I can get anywhere in my car in 15 minutes. I'm gonna have to make a transfer at the downtown station, get another line, 40 minutes later, I've arrived at the day care, So now I'm over an hour and a half in. Right? Get the child I know that you gotta get him to the doctor. Maybe I can walk to the doctor, but there's not a sidewalk.
Roger Lent So I've got to get down there, do that journey. Then I gotta to wait for the next bus when that appointment is done to get home. Maybe have to stop at the pharmacy. All said and done, that's probably a 3 or 4 hour of your day. You don't have sick leave 3rd leave time not.
Roger Lent You have not gotten paid. Can we do better for that individual? 3rd I think that's where 3rd comes in? So 3rd is the mobility as a service that was just discussed, where you can use an app and understanding that not everybody can afford this. A phone number you can call, unlike Uber Lyft, where if you don't have a smartphone, you're locked out of that service.
Roger Lent And we were able to cover not 40 percent of the city, but a hundred percent of the city with transit service. And we're able to do that with a 15 minute. Average wait time. So you get you need that trip, you go on the phone, where you call the call center, you get that trip in 15 minutes, you're taken to the door of the 3rd, do what you need there. You get home and that journey that took...
Roger Lent That issue that took 4 hours of your day, is now an hour and a half, which is a lot of time for that person that has to deal with that situation that transit dependent. And I think that's really critically important and the fact that we were able then to take the same resources that we had for fixed route and cover an entire city Now I'm connecting people to jobs that weren't out of reach for them because they did couldn't afford a car, maybe they couldn't drive. So we've been doing this for nearly a year and a half. We're over a hundred and 50000 trips. Last week, we did 3500 trips.
Roger Lent The fixed route before that was 1450 trips. And during the pandemic, when we had to take the fixed routes down, we were only doing 300 trips. Even during a pandemic, our transit riders ship went up 140 percent over fixed route. So it's been a really a real game changer, but in Wilson, and we're very proud of it. We've got recognition from Fda, we been able to get grants to extend our ours and we were able to use it to provide vaccine trips to folks, when we did that for free with the help of our partners at Nc.
Roger Lent But what's most proud about it is the change that has been made in people's lives. And this during Covid, right? So that that individual I'm telling you and our average rider makes less than 25000 dollars a year. We've changed their economics. In that situation that that person that parent might have had to get a taxi cab, make multiple trips and spend 40 dollars or half their income that day.
Roger Lent On Rye, they could do that for less than 10 on those multiple legs. That's a big deal. The other thing that we've been able to do is connect people to work. So these pharmaceutical jobs that we're out of reach for people. The number 1 thing they said that was a problem was transportation.
Roger Lent People did not have a reliable way to get to work. We've changed that. 48 percent of our folks said this service has enabled them to get a job or keep a job where transportation was a barrier. And I think that's really important. I won't read all the statistics, but I think it's worth noting that know, talking to your customers to find out how the service is going, how the service can be improved is critically important.
Roger Lent And in our Covid world, I don't think we'll ever go back to fixed route. Right? This has proven to be exceptionally great service, exceptionally well received. And I'm not sure of a transit company 3rd transit system in the country that's had a hundred and 40 percent growth over what was 3rd pandemic. So we're very, very proud of what we've done in Wilson.
Roger Lent Well I think the bones of our city are set up for that 15 minute model, but obviously a lot of dis investment in some of the central areas, not unlike lot of smaller towns and cities in North Carolina that are kind of outside the Metro, especially in Eastern North Carolina. I think that I choose fixed route and what Charlotte used to work in the Charlotte area what Charlotte done with White rail and that's exact what they need to be doing, but there's still even transit deserts in that model where I think Micro transit can fill in. And you know, Now, let's be honest. They were doing this like transit. So the city's is putting in a lot of money, Dots is putting in a lot of money.
Roger Lent You know, a dollar 50 fair is not recovering. The cost. But when you start thinking about a city that's 25 percent poverty rate, transportation is a barrier, you, the cities aren't in the social service business in North Carolina. That's a county function. I think this is a perfect way for the for the city to to, you know do its role in in connecting people to economic opportunity.
Roger Lent And you know, while I think the county van systems are a a lifeline and they're very important. But, you know, if you just had to go get a gallon on of milk. Right? I need a gallon of milk we're gonna go out and get milk and bread after this because the snow coming. Right?
Roger Lent Imagine... You know well, I didn't call a day ahead to make that reservation on the county van system. So there's no... You got a plan so far ahead that you just can't make that work. And so I think that's what Micro transit has done in Wilson is let people be spontaneous.
Roger Lent And get the things that they need and 1 of the quotes I didn't read verbatim, But if you caught it on the slide was we have some blind population that basically said to change my life. To be able to essentially compete with someone that had access to a private car, and I think that's really important
Sharon Pearson So I wanted to share that with you to show you that there is hope there's opportunity out there. We've been talking a lot of challenges that we're having. But this is something that is happening in the United States. And via has been a very big, popular. Service that a lot of organizations have using.
Sharon Pearson If we have time, I will show you what they're doing in Toledo as well, but I were hoping to get to the threats today, But before we get there, I wanted to also mention before we start talking about the threats. That's something that's happening down south. Which is the fact that the Lorraine County fair is planning an Expo center that's gonna to be 55000 square feet, and we'll hold 2 to 3000 people. But
Lauren guess what?
Sharon Pearson We don't have transportation that goes down there. So that's very interesting. I'm very excited back that something is happening in the southern part of the county. Bob there. There's time.
Lauren School. Currently So yeah. Yeah. It's full. Yeah.
Matt Go ahead I
Joe Miller don't need the interject here, but... So when I first got into
n/a this 5 years ago, we had you'll ohio state... Ohio state came in. We actually came in together. 3rd a lot
Joe Miller of this freshman words got the transportation apart.
n/a And smart vehicles and not. It's 1 of the things that they said was the idea in Ohio that we're gonna start expanding our bus system,
Matt it's not gonna happen.
n/a What we're probably gonna see is maybe the 3 c's getting a high speed rail, Amtrak wants to run
Joe Miller in these west, a couple
n/a of these bus routes. And then everything else is gonna be inter... Multi. It's going to be what this ride is. I mean, this is a great example of what they're envisioning for filling the need.
n/a For work. 3rd, you know, the a lot of the... Lot of those sound in Comm are, hey, you know, what saying, Idle Idle hands 3rd the devil's workshop for students. That matter of fact, I partner number that correctly. And the idea is that the cities will be better off if they can get their populations to work.
n/a Because when there were, they're not in the city I trying to do things, and that means younger your kids. You know, you're 18 to 25. Well, I don't have a vehicle. I can't get to work and then it just just the the snowball. But I think 1 of the things we need to think about is this idea of tying in, business, pain.
n/a If if we bring 1 of your employees to your business, will you cover some of that cost. And what you end up seeing is our businesses will make agreements with a told right they use them in learning county. And then the veterans are like, hey, we need the veteran Chris said we need some more veterans picked up. We have funding that we can contribute that. Hey and we've got medicaid patients that 3rd are recipients that need to get to medical care down care, then that picked up.
n/a And yeah. But with technology and the building set have to ask the information at hand, this this multi model transportation system the seventh in Learning County could automatically be just filling now. Mh. You know who your right is. Like, I don't know why you buy use left or Uber use what she's like, lately more.
n/a And they're like, hey, here's a picture on me and here's my information and all you have to put in there is here's my business code or whatever the code of the business hand that's you or did Medicaid hands. And and that way, you put that in the phone, and that app will just bill each 1 of those organizations. And then it cuts down on company's contribution. Now they're just picking up for errors where we don't get reimbursed by the fed's and the state. So just with the thought, this is more likely going to happen before you get a bus route.
n/a That's gonna go from the Fair of Wellington all the way to the light count route 58. You know? I was... My mind was the old transit system when I first started thinking about this... Council and Amber.
n/a And now this so the technology has jumped so far 3rd I'm, like, wow. My idea at that time of how to get this transit back up and running. We're so outdated. So I, you know, I've had to put it in high gear. Thank you for the few minutes.
n/a But I wanted to know that the stable ohio sees this. As a worthy the funding model and support, then they would adding bus lines and routes and and fixed And then that does. What was the
Joe Miller 2 things they wanted? They wanted more destinations and more timely way to get there. That ride system is a multi mobile system that they'll have state presented to us. And I think that you're gonna see acceptance of that and maybe financial support.
Tiffany Yeah. So I'm wondering if
Sharon Pearson you wanna see what they're doing in Toledo, that. You like to find Okay. They're using here. I'll I'll go I'll go straight to this video. Tar flex, they're using via.
Sharon Pearson I just wanted to bring in home that this not something that's just happening in North Carolina. That's something that's happening close us. And then we can try to end with the... This it's
Lauren Has Rolled His New Program to help Underserved Areas. The Flex Program Will Provide Affordable Rides To Connect Suburban And Rural Areas. With City Service. 13 Willie Dan Joins Us Live With More On This Story Tonight Willie.
Willie Dan Diane Win uber 3rd Lyft First Came Out. It Changed The way That People Got Around. Now Tar Is Using That Same Business Model To Change Way People 3rd Using Public Transportation.
Sam Melt Tar is our solution to bring public transit to all of Lukas County.
Willie Dan This year, the Toledo area regional transit authority rolled its new Tar flex program, and on demand micro transit service that reaches the majority of Lukas County. Sam Melt in the Chief Communications 3rd external affairs off sir, tells me it doesn't make sense for the huge target buses to drive down country roads. But the Rural area still Need to Be served.
Sam Melt So Tar flex is really that first mile last mile solution so that if you wanna tap into the fixed out service and go all throughout the City of Toledo 3rd Lucas County and Ro, than you can. But if you just wanna stay within that area, Water, Ami S pennsylvania, stay within that zone for a shorter trip then Tar flexes a perfect solution.
Willie Dan Tar flex covers 3 zones outside the city of Toledo. The Northwest zone, which encompasses S pennsylvania and Holland, the South Zone encompassing Mon and Water and the Ross zone. Water Mayor Tim Pedro says the program is a game changer in terms of local transportation.
Mark Du It's on the principle of Uber or lyft, but much more economical. In you're right, seniors can use it for medical appointments.
Willie Dan The right cost 3 dollars per person per ride. And from June to August, people 19 years old and younger will be able to use the youth summer blast Pass To Ride Any Tar Of Transit Including Flex For Free.
Sam Melt Tar Flex Really is The It's Really The The Most Affordable. Reporter reporter ride share, point to point rides share in all of Lukas County. There's no doubt about that.
Willie Dan Pedro tells me the program will do more than just help people Get Where they need to go. It will Lost help the planet.
Mark Du Across America, we need to conserve energy, roads and so forth. And I think this is just an opportunity to take advantage of another tool. So In our Toolbox.
Willie Dan If You Want To Order A Tar flex Just Like This 1, It's As Easy As The Snap Of a Finger. All you have to do is download the app, call the customer service number or order it online and paying for it is just as easy. You can pay in cash. Or Easy Pay. Reporting Live In Sal, Willie Dan 13 Abc Action News.
Sharon Pearson So Just Wanted To Share That With You. Get Your Get your thoughts on that?
n/a Lucas channel good because they have a... I thought that You just county in marine padding. First of all, veteran population is we consider that in your county for us for debt. You also have toledo you have an urban center. Mh.
n/a And then you when you start going south Blue County, you get a lot more room. So it might be worthy about reaching reaching out to Lucas County and saying, tell me about this target flex. How is it funded, who's paying for? Because I unless I miss it. I am really see how it being funded all that much?
Sharon Pearson Well, I believe that they're part of the... Group, which learning county is part of it too called Neo ride. And so we are able to contract or counties that are part of the neo ride, which is a council government's group are able to contract with services like Via at a reduced cost because it's a group of transit organizations that are part of this So I I know that their the county is aware of this. They're they're looking at options like this. But I just wanted to present to you that, you know, these 2 that we've seen from North carolina and and 3rd are seemingly hitting everything that we've been talking about.
Sharon Pearson They talk about job. They talked about seniors. They talked about the app that also be able to call. So it's not just about the app, talking about ping. On their phones because we've been talking a lot of gloom and doing 3rd figuring out what do we do?
Sharon Pearson This is what we can do. We've already out there. And if in Ohio already 2. So just wanted to present that it's not all gloom and doom. We have examples and they're close by.
Sharon Pearson Mh.
Joe Miller I think the first mile last mile is to keep. I mean, that's really what focus will be. You can get a transit bus the system to take you point a to point b now the major strip of say Broadway or Middle street area. Wherever, but it's that last mile. And I think the mayor was saying you can...
Joe Miller You you need to start configuring your... Your infrastructure and each of your municipalities of. And so maybe he help walk that last quarter mile and they need to run so you need more pedestrian friendly sidewalks. So there's 3rd there's a, you know, there's tons of scooters and bikes and things that they'll get there, and then we'll just take shoot around time.
n/a We saw that a lot I went into a conference. And they,
Joe Miller you know, you you flew in. Or you drove and
n/a you parked in the parking contract, but you
Joe Miller wanna get around town and the amount of people that would just get on those bikes if you get done and put it in there swipe and go. A lot of younger you will use that. Because they immediately go. They're like, I'm not waiting for 15 minutes for a limb. Get you know, I got out on a scooter and no, I'd kill myself.
Joe Miller But they they would get there where they needed to be. They said last first mile, last mile problem getting them from their home so the bus stop. Get bust up to where they need debate. And that's the that's the challenge of getting all these different leaders in the different. Local communities to buy into helping with that.
Joe Miller First my last mile issue.
Sharon Pearson So let's maybe just do to this 3rd. Together. I was gonna have a guy break out with smaller groups. But maybe we can just kinda go through this real quick and then be able to try to end on time. So threats.
Sharon Pearson Threats. We've we've heard the strengths, the weaknesses, the opportunities, we didn't get some threats last time. So threats are... Based on everything we heard today, you know, think about all of that. But threats are areas with potential to cause problems.
Sharon Pearson So would love to hear your thoughts on this first. What changes in community are cause her concern
Lauren Yes. The once.
Matt In the fact that like we said before, these call of jobs you you have a lot of younger other people leaving the county. So it's like a text of our younger people or...
Sharon Pearson Well, this is... I wanna hear from from you. What what do you think? 3rd causes for concern because the reason why I'm asking these questions is because we're trying to get to what are some of the goals that we need to establish and we're only looking at 5 goals from 20 24 to 20 29. Yes.
Lauren Just based on the conversation, I would see just a eye in, because I mean we're kind made county by transit. Like you mentioned, there are of cities in the county that wouldn't necessarily tied into this. So what we do to try and develop this county why system, but potentially moving ahead without some of those cities that also are the ones that potentially have the jobs 3rd are
Tiffany more of like fluent,
Lauren And so the right system actually seems pretty equal because if you're a business person, always have used Uber mobile business, that's... I mean, there's no shame. Anything on that you're copying of using a bus that you might be seem, like, oh, is there something wrong. Okay.
Sharon Pearson You know what your car?
Joe Miller Do you think that some of these n communities, not my backyard. I don't want you to dump 6 7 people at a stop in my city to... For for them to wait for 20 minutes and just lo or around them. You know, I mean... It's...
Joe Miller Unfortunately, if a mindset, you know, a lot of these federal communities are 95 percents, mobile through their own vehicle. And well, you're gonna bring that my city that's going to lower property values because That means that people are getting junk off probably can't afford nicer homes so we have to provide look, I mean, it's really a nifty kind of thing. With this multi modal last mile, first mile, you can get them in, and they're not waiting in a bus stop, they're getting drop off the place of work if they're gonna go downtown 3rd airline. I'll use my bedroom community Island live and which I would see could be a very n type of community. Would say, well, we need something to work in in Zig or, you know, the room now or whatever.
Joe Miller But we necessarily don't wanna dropped off in the corner of route 58 in Cleveland avenue where. They're all walking or they're, you know, they're sitting. There waiting to come downtown or I I could see that being... Maybe I would use the term obstacle will be his strengths, scare obstacle what are some of the obstacles? And I think you hit on it when you said, people are little concerned 3rd you will not necessarily willing to buy in if they can't see the economic return on investment of hitting being a part of this.
Joe Miller But as soon as communities like Amy realize, hey, we can... All of our businesses in higher bring, you know, because there's not enough people at wanna work. I guess, in the Z kitchen... I'm just using 3rd hilarious, an example of Cities. But, you know, that...
Joe Miller I think there's... I think you're right. It's an obstacle.
Matt Yeah. I
Lauren mean, you do have candidates things like. They don't definitely necessarily depend on people that live Avon. They've link to me and those businesses and those but the commerce there is like, booming. So they're getting workers somewhere. Funny we're busy work go shop.
Lauren So like he said, probably having bus props around there would be kind of like numbers. Bus wrap. You know, if they more visible. So doing something like this, could potentially be, you know, like, a way to bring those communities that potentially... Right don't wanna see it, but know that people are coming from other cities too.
Lauren Yeah. To work there. And and that also they might be more likely these invest cells because now it's, you know, not like like it said, Uber. Is many everybody uses Uber,
Sharon Pearson and there's
Lauren cells low income, I income, you know, whatever, you just use it for the convenience. So if, like, your car will pound instead, I'm like, My. I can just go to the app, just get me a ride. To head over here while my cars scheme picks. Yeah.
Matt Fix the day. Yeah.
n/a And I think you start with we are allowed to save patient on Lc. We... By I said they have
Joe Miller a sense a bill, but we're
n/a a lot of paperwork. So if we're lot of pay for that, I wonder if we we be a lot of pay to the right from... And I don't see I don't see why. I also don't have in court with me right now. They don't don't that anything that I and I looked by that.
n/a But initially, I don't see why we couldn't. So if you get organizations like the veterans service mission to buy into that, people tend other the veterans are joining, Now all a sudden, you have A study customer. Right? No 1 saying bad about veterans. So...
Sharon Pearson Well... And I think you're getting at the second 1 what necessary resources are cause for concern And funding is 1 of them.
Lauren And then broadband and the 1?
Sharon Pearson You have to have problems to be
Lauren able to get moderator apps that we need to make all of this work. So I know there money out there with Broadband Live. And in our community, there are people that they and I have access to broadly because they're underserved populations. So that's a huge huge concern for us and wearing down that.
Sharon Pearson Yes. You're right. And that's why we always need to think about... So that community and why we cannot strictly in my opinion, be about being on the app or going on the computer, We also... We always need to have that phone call Mh.
Sharon Pearson Option for it. But that is a threat because you know, somebody who's younger than me, probably are oh, you know, all they've known is technology. So they're not gonna... I mean, they haven't seen a though. No
Lauren So see
Sharon Pearson what areas is have there been problems for? That is kind of a general 1. But anything else regarding opportunities and threats, I think you really hit on it, you know, I think that what the opportunity that I'm hearing is, we don't have to do... It doesn't need to be 1 or the other. It can be a gradual situation that happens.
Sharon Pearson The communities that what I see that if you have a couple of communities like Ray and L that want this. And I will tell like, I think Avon Like wants to 2 because they have employers are looking for in employees. That want to do something like a ride. Everybody else is gonna start to see that that's successful and wants to join in. 3rd then that's when you get when that expo center down, the fair get started, Then you're starting to grow a system.
Sharon Pearson And then but I think a lot of times we think it either has to be 3rd that's the only opportunities we have before before technology came on. It had the county wide system and everybody had to buy it, whether they were gonna use it or not. And that was a win lose situation. And now it's technology, it allows us to be a little bit more nimble with the system. And I think that that's great.
Sharon Pearson Anything else, like here's is an example, economic development changing, desired destinations running out of funding for pilot programs? Our county... Lee county is the ninth largest county out of 80 eights. And for those of us who live a lot of times in over La malaria Avon Labor Amherst her week we don't realize how rule our county is. Mh And how many seniors in probably veterans live out in those counties that need access to medical, need access to food, and it's not easy for them to walk anywhere.
Sharon Pearson In those communities. But any other brands that you can think of?
Lauren Can I say something quick?
Sharon Pearson Yes.
Tiffany I... I'm a huge fan of the micro transit concept. My only concern is we cannot make it in a 1 size fits all. What's gonna to work for the communities of Ale, Lora lorraine, Avon, Avon Lake, may not necessarily be the perfect fit for the rural communities. And I think there has to be a lot of flexibility and it has to be fluid as to how we roll things out.
Tiffany I don't wanna set anybody up for failure, and I don't want to over overcome and under deliver either. No if if we want to make a positive pitch to the constituents of the county at some point going forward, we have to express that it that it cannot be A11 size fits all, because it it may not work that way.
Sharon Pearson Yeah. And I think we agree with you. I don't think that we were saying that at all. And that's the reason why we're saying that doesn't with the technology, it can be a lot of different way size. Yeah.
Sharon Pearson We can right size, It can be all kinds of because the technology allows us to do that. So I think does everybody understand that? That we're not... I don't think that we're talking about it needs to be 1 way or another. We just need to start something.
Sharon Pearson So any other comments on this?
Lauren I mean, I think found a set of eb fan for the how is
Sharon Pearson a much good. So that's a threat that we don't have 1. Yeah. I mean, well
Lauren what is they're developing 3rd they're developing. Becoming in offer opportunity that we say real So someone you see at that table mommy, you know And
n/a I can bring it up. I'm more than happy it up this an an issue. I think the biggest thing and whatever Recommended to them unless, you know, Way 3rd do it or so I can do it. I think a real study needs to be done. Survey monkeys is great, but it's not scientific.
n/a It's not... We can't... You cannot really reference very well. The survey might be questions as 3rd group benefit. Right?
n/a So there needs to be some type of real as down the dirt kind of glut part the needs that you can argue with. And I know I forget with the formulas that you can actually sample survey people wanna forgetting to serve the formulas off and to know. So then you can go to the new favor and say that a 2 to 3 percent version of error, this is what it is in marine time. So I'm really than happy to recommend that because the transportation in this county is seriously lacking for people who want good work. For people who need get further treatment and everything else.
n/a As far as CII think you also need to approach the issue of transportation as Maybe they don't me to go to the store. Right? Maybe they need to get with Amazon prime. So that they net groceries being delivered never so often. Maybe they need give with...
n/a I think it's called in insta card. 3rd whenever use it. That you know, they could call someone. Right? I can't expect a 90 year old brand but know how to use Insta.
n/a But if but by serving our seniors or something else, grandma call serving our seniors and say, hey, I need this stuff delivered. A, it keeps her off the road, saves transportation assets for someone who needs to get there. And also gets the food delivered right to our ass. So sometimes the need, you think is something but it's really something else. Son Deepgram on needs transportation the store.
n/a That's not the problem. The problem that she needs to do. So we can find a way to through the bird, and she doesn't need to trans...
Sharon Pearson Well, I you know, I I understand that providing various options. We do have some some people from some senior organizations here, but I will tell you that what I have also found is that seniors... That socialization piece is very, very big. Yeah. So getting to the grocery store is not just about the transportation.
Sharon Pearson It's about getting out of the house because I've had calls from people were, like, I'm sitting in my house 24 7
n/a and I.
Lauren So Yeah. And and I'm the director the aging. And we you tried that. We've tried, you know, bringing the food the dance. Here's a problem all under under, that wouldn't been that.
Lauren You don't wanna fund that. You know, We go to trans... We go to transportation. Oh, no. We can't fund it putting it
Sharon Pearson in the bus, then you
Lauren go to the opposite. Nobody wants to fund that. So that is another issue that we run cost is that we that that that flipping the thought is 3rd is not fitting neatly buttons lung x first of all. But kind of what Cheryl will saying is it's not... So for the 90 year old...
Lauren Yeah, so I'm thinking of somebody that's, you know, waiver and they don't figure out 1. Be more. Yes. That's perfect. But, I mean, I'm thinking about 3rd 70 year old, by 75 year 3rd then.
Lauren Maybe they this is our socialization. So my only fear with with doing that. I mean, I think that there's a nice balance. That butter around. 3rd beating the need of not actually furthering the social isolation problem, which actually we could inadvertently do if you get two's technology.
Lauren So we have to have to that social. Yeah. But you know, there's like I said, they're multiple solutions to the problem. Than it.
Sharon Pearson I wanna get all of you out here on time. I don't know we have
Matt this 1.
Sharon Pearson No. Right. No. No. No.
Sharon Pearson No. I Believe me. I can send her another I wanna talk about this. So I just wanna make sure I'm not, you know, holding you guys up. Couple of announcements.
Sharon Pearson We are looking for an intern here what We are calling a transportation improvement in terms to work with me. And so if you know anybody, it's 15 hours a week, Please let them know to go to indeed and it's listed there or contact me. It's a paid position too. Yes.
n/a Reached see.
Lauren Mh. Yes.
n/a Send me people this. Okay.
Sharon Pearson Also, I'm doing right along. We have a right along tomorrow at 10AM. We leave from Meridian Plaza. It's a 2 hour ride. So if you haven't done it.
Sharon Pearson Get with me. There's a couple of people who have gone on the bus ride. With me and it's an experience that everybody should have to understand from the writer standpoint, what it's like. Yeah. And then I can't remember your name from Yeah.
Sharon Pearson 3rd. Oh, you you had an announcement you wanted to make too.
Lauren Another great sign to get to those neighbors in the communities we all serving. We had what's called a neighbor we Bahrain as
Sharon Pearson well every month. Possibly tonight.
Lauren We're up an air about that. At Harrison community culture center. And then the second 1 is going to be in The urban. That's gonna be on September fourteenth. There's a fly out in the gl area.
Lauren We glad to see you 3rd anybody else. You guys think my 1 just... Come and hang out with this and talk about issues. You talk about your. We you help about childcare here we can talk about you had bad day at work.
Lauren It's just literally whatever you wanna talk about. We do believe that when our
Sharon Pearson release forces are needed, are in the room, This might
Lauren be a great time to talk about talk to the actual individuals who might need these transportation this transportation. We provide the lorraine 1 we provide translators, child care, and dinner and for Ones who provide although to except for the transmitter. So definitely we try to help to evolve for everybody ahead.
Sharon Pearson So just last, I I'll get you... Our next meeting is gonna be October 20 sixth at 10AM here. We're gonna be... I need to. Put all this information together and at that time, trying to find some common themes and then have everybody vote on.
Sharon Pearson Which themes they think we should be focused on for the next 5 years. So we're gonna to be putting that together and asking for you to participate state in that. And hopefully, I will have a draft ready for you review too. That will be the final meeting because then we need to send it to the move forward for them to review and then it goes to the commissioners for final approval before we send it to the scene of Ohio. And we had a comment too that you...
n/a Where, I hadn't now. Yes. Yes. What? If this is appropriate.
Sharon Pearson Yes. It is. P r
n/a is hosted to a fundraiser. We've got tickets I've got about 5 tickets is 30 dollars. I've got some information about who we are, what we do for the community. And so I've got flyers 3rd into them with you as you...
Sharon Pearson And and what when is the fundraising?
n/a Gonna be on... Self september with a 14 from 5 to 7 at 2 bucks. The tickets are 8 dollars a pizza in you got. You got unlimited boneless the wings pizza, mac and salad, unlimited domestic sprout, beer, wine or well drinks and, you know, with Driver
Lauren Need
Sharon Pearson