Coordination Planning & Mobility Management
RLS & Associates, Inc. has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leading firms in the area of coordinated transportation. In the early 1990s, RLS developed Ohio’s “Handbook for Coordinating Transportation Services”—the first how-to manual for step-by-step coordination at the local level—as well as providing hands-on assistance to a number of systems and communities in the area of transportation coordination. RLS also developed the companion guide to the Handbook, “A Guide for Implementing Coordinated Transportation Services.” This document was developed to take coordination to the next step, implementation, and provide tools and resources to assist in this implementation.
After the launching of the United We Ride Initiative in 2004 and subsequent coordination requirements instituted with the passage of SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, the FAST Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), RLS stepped forward as a leader in both providing technical assistance to states in meeting the Federal requirements as well as in the development of state, regional, and local coordination plans across the country. RLS successfully implemented not only the basic concepts that were contained in the original United We Ride concept, but proven best practices that have been identified by FTA, state DOTs, and RLS’ own coordination experience.
RLS has built on its extensive experience and lessons learned to offer a unique and innovative perspective to each project and client, rather than a “one size fits all” approach. This perspective is built on a pragmatic process of evaluating each new project based both on a combination of RLS’ national experience in the transit industry and the reality that each community and transit system is unique. RLS’ experienced staff also offers diverse backgrounds and records of success with projects on a variety of scales so that the right combination of resources and expertise can be committed to ensure success.
Community Transportation Initiatives
Local communities and transit systems help connect all members of the community with employment, health, educational, and other important opportunities and services. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) supports these endeavors through a number of initiatives. One such initiative is the USDOT Livability Initiative whose goal is to, “enhance the economic and social well-being of Americans by creating and maintaining a safe, reliable, integrated and accessible transportation network that enhances choices for transportation users, provides easy access to employment opportunities and other destinations, and promotes positive effects on the surrounding community.” Through all its coordination and short- and long-term planning assistance, RLS can provide recommendations and alternatives for enhancing and improving local transit services to meet these goals.
Coordination Planning and Implementation–Local, Regional, and State
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires that all projects requiring funding through the FTA Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) be documented in a formal, local planning process. These locally developed plans, typically described as Coordinated Public Transportation-Human Services (PTHS) Plans, are required to identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes; provide strategies for meeting these needs; and prioritize transportation services for funding and implementation. Aside from fulfilling Federal compliance requirements, these plans are an important step in the process of bringing communities together to discuss and identify the range of unmet needs and gaps in services with the existing transportation resources. Regardless of how services are provided, transportation providers and human service agencies are all searching for ways to economize, connect, increase productivity and provide user-friendly access to critical services and community amenities. In an era of increasing need and demand for shared-ride transportation and stable or declining revenue, organizational partnerships must be explored and cost-saving measures must be made to best serve the state’s changing transportation demands. Interactive coordinated transportation planning that involves state and local stakeholders provides the best opportunity to accomplish this goal.
Each plan requires the conduct of comprehensive public outreach, needs and gap analysis, transportation resource inventory, goals and objectives, and prioritized project listing. RLS has conducted local, regional, and statewide PTHS plans all over the country for State DOTs, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), planning and development agencies, and local transit systems.
Mobility Management
Many transit agencies are embracing the concept of ‘mobility management’, a strategic approach to designing and delivering transportation services that starts and ends with the customer. It begins with a shared vision in which the entire transportation network—public transit, private operators, cyclers and walkers, volunteer drivers, and others—works together with customers, planners, and stakeholders to deliver the transportation options that best meet the community’s needs.
When implemented, mobility management can move transit agencies away from their roles as fixed-route service operators and toward collaboration with other transportation providers. The idea behind this approach is to create a full range of well-matched mobility services within a community. With the mobility management approach, transit resources are efficiently coordinated, enabling customers to make better decisions, and improve customer service.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
NEMT is funded through Medicaid and is a critical service available for individuals who would otherwise not be able to attend important medical appointments. Although not a FTA-funded program, NEMT plays an important role in the effort to integrate a community’s available services. Standard fixed-route public transportation may not always be a viable option for individuals who are physically limited or dealing with other health circumstances. To meet the needs of these individuals, public transit systems can coordinate with the various NEMT options available, such as paratransit and demand response or dial-a-ride services. With these services, individuals can schedule pickups from home or another predetermined location based on their scheduled appointments; typically there is only a small fee per ride. These services can reliably provide special accommodations that may not always be available with standard fixed-route public transportation or companies like Uber and Lyft.
Coordination between public transit systems and NEMT services ensures community members, whatever their health circumstance, can attend their appointments on a regular basis and in a cost-effective and convenient way. RLS has been a leader in this area, working with State DOTs and local transit systems and communities to plan, design, and evaluate the best mix of transportation service to meet NEMT needs in the local community, region, and state.
Transit Integration
When the word integration is used in conversations about transit, it traditionally means making it easy to make trips and, therefore, ensure access across a local or regional area, for example a city, multiple counties, etc. It can also involve multiple transit agencies that are geographically connected, independent of the type of service, fares, schedules, ticket systems, etc. that may be in place. The goal is to provide a transportation network that is ‘seamless’. Service coordination and integration are occurring all over the country, and RLS has already worked with several communities to help make that happen, but there will always be additional opportunities to explore. With coordination and integration comes decisions about fares, vehicle types, special customer needs, and more. A major priority of integration is to optimize convenience for customers. Transit integration can help avoid duplication through coordination of not only service delivery, but also vehicle purchases. Transit integration is a key component of RLS’ service evaluations, short- and long-range planning efforts, and coordinated plans.
Transportation Network Company (TNC)
Transportation network companies (TNCs), like Uber and Lyft, have emerged across the country over the past few years. These enterprises differ from traditional, for-hire transportation companies, such as taxicab and limousine services since they connect passengers with drivers through a mobile application. Concerns about the use of these enterprises range from ensuring public safety while fostering innovative advances in transportation to adequate liability insurance requirements, ensuring criminal, record and license checks, sufficient driver training and testing, and vehicle inspection standards. Still, TNCs are used by transit systems to provide “first and last mile” service. However, many communities are pushing transit systems to try and use TNCs to supplement paratransit services; the challenge this presents for transit systems is how to affordably gain vehicles and trained drivers. RLS works with local communities and transit systems to evaluate all meaningful modes of transportation as part of its plan, design, and evaluation of transit service.
Staff Expertise
Kim Angel
Kim AngelAssociateMs. Kim Angel has more than 25 years of direct experience managing transit operations, service contracts, grants at the federal, state, and local level, and a diverse range of public transportation projects. As an Associate at RLS, Kim will be in...
Megan Matheny
Megan MathenyAssociateMs. Matheny works out of the North Carolina office (located in Wilmington, NC). She joined RLS in May 2022 bringing with her 12 years of experience working in the public transportation industry. Ms. Matheny has 11 years of direct experience...
Teri Palmer
Teri PalmerAssociateMs. Teri Palmer joins RLS & Associates, Inc. as the New Hampshire Statewide Mobility Manager.Home • Our Firm • Our Staff • Training • Expertise • Clients • Contact3131 S. Dixie Hwy. Suite 545, Dayton, Ohio 45439Contact us for more...
Tyler Bender
Tyler BenderAssociateMr. Tyler Bender joins RLS & Associates, Inc. as a remote employee after several years of work providing compliance program management and technical assistance at the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Transit. He possesses...
Bethany Renner
Bethany RennerAssociateMs. Bethany Renner works from the Dayton, OH Headquarters, having joined RLS & Associates, Inc. after years of work in charitable giving, community outreach, and project management. Bethany will initially be working as an Associate for the...
Amy Rast
Amy RastAssociateMs. Amy Rast works out of the RLS Lyndonville, Vermont office, having joined RLS & Associates, Inc. after a successful career with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). Ms. Rast has over 30 years of transportation experience including...
Robin Lovins
Robin LovinsAssociateMs. Lovins joined RLS in March of 2020. Ms. Lovins comes to RLS with over 22 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant in an office environment. Extensive office experience dealing with a diversity of professionals, clients, and...
Russ Parish
Russ Parish Associate Mr. Russ Parish works out of the RLS Arkansas Office and manages State RTAP projects for New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. He is also a member of the RLS Drug and Alcohol Compliance Monitoring team. An accomplished and...
Robbie Sarles
Robbie L. SarlesPresidentMs. Robbie L. Sarles is President and founder of RLS & Associates, Inc., a transit consulting firm headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with 40 staff and offices in Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Vermont, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, and...
Ray Boylston
Mr. Ray BoylstonSenior AssociateMr. Ray Boylston works out of the RLS Wake Forest, North Carolina office. He has over 30 years of experience in transit planning, management, operations, compliance, and finance at the state, county, and municipal levels,...
Laura Brown
Laura BrownChief of Business Development/Director of Planning Initiatives Ms. Laura Brown works in San Antonio, Texas and is the Director of Planning Initiatives for RLS’ coordination and planning projects as well as the Chief of Business Development. Ms. Brown has a...
Rich Garrity
Rich GarritySenior Associate/Compliance Subject Matter ExpertMr. Rich Garrity is located in the RLS Wilmington, North Carolina office. He has over 44 years of experience in transit and paratransit planning, operations and management evaluation,...
Charles Glover
Charles Glover Senior Associate Mr. Charles Glover works out of the RLS Raleigh, North Carolina office and has over 43 years of public transportation experience, with extensive expertise in the planning and development of coordinated transportation services and...
Julie Schafer
Julie SchaferDirector of State InitiativesMs. Julie Schafer is located in the Dayton, OH Headquarters. A former Section 5311 transit manager of a seven-county public transit system in rural Indiana, she has over 22 years of experience, 15 years of that in transit...
Kelly Shawn
Kelly ShawnSenior AssociateMr. Kelly Shawn is located in the RLS Alexandria, Virginia office. With over 36 years in the transit industry, Mr. Shawn is an experienced trainer, facilitator, and project manager with extensive expertise in small urban, rural, and tribal...
Christy Campoll
Christy CampollSenior AssociateMs. Campoll currently serves in assignments as Project Manager, Lead Planner, and Researcher for RLS’ planning team, as well as Reviewer for compliance engagements. A former transportation vice president, Ms. Campoll...
Zach Kincade
Zach KincadeAssociateMr. Zach Kincade works out of the RLS Texas Office. He has over 16 years of experience as a project manager and Lead Analyst for RLS data collection and survey analysis projects. He also provides technical support to RLS senior staff...
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