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Deschutes County supports the Vision Statement, Guiding Principles, Planning Goals, and
selected Priority Projects of the Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project as
they are consistent with the following Goals in the Deschutes County Transportation System
Plan:
• Enhance the opportunity for intermodal connections throughout the County
transportation system.
• Increase the existing level of special services provided.
• Establish rural transit service for Deschutes County residents.
• Decrease barriers to the use of existing services.
Deschutes County will offer the following support for the implementation of each project:
For Project 1
• Agency Support:
- The Deschutes County Commission recognizes the Central Oregon
Intergovernmental Council (COIC) as the regional public transportation
coordinating entity.
• Participation on Regional Coordinating Council:
- The Deschutes County Commission will appoint a county staff person to serve
on the Regional Coordinating Council.
• Special Transportation Fund (STF) Administration:
The Deschutes County Commission will consider working and/or contracting
with COIC to administer the local STF program. This consideration will not
include delegating project funding approval authority of the Commission.
For Project 2
• Participation on Project Advisory Committee:
- The Deschutes County Commission will appoint a county staff person to serve
on the Project Advisory Committee to provide technical assistance on the service
plan.
• Grants and Funding:
- Deschutes County will provide technical support, as needed, for funding
applications related to implementing this project.
• Planning:
- Deschutes County will review relevant portions of its Transportation System
Plan and land use ordinances to identify opportunities to prepare for regional
inter -community public transportation.
• Partnership:
- Deschutes County will cooperate with the regional public transportation
coordinating entity in its efforts to secure funding and operational support by
working in partnership with area businesses, foundations, ODOT Public
Transportation Division, COIC, and other organizations.
Board of County Commissioners Participating County Representative
Name: Name: Judith Ure, Management Analyst
Signature: Signature:
Date: Date:
0 Oregon Solutions
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project
Project Summary as of January 31, 2008
The Deschutes County Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan was adopted by the Deschutes
County Board of Commissioners in July 2007. The plan establishes a comprehensive vision for fast, fair,
flexible and frequent public transportation services in the county and throughout Central Oregon. The plan
identifies priorities and action items to be undertaken in the near and long terms to achieve its goals. It is
now time for Deschutes County and its partners to commit the time, talent and resources to implement the
plan. Success will depend on the sustained commitment and cooperation of all planning participants.
These commitments begin with a set of achievable high-priority projects identified by stakeholders on
September 27, 2007. Within the next two years, these stakeholders intend to implement the following
projects:
Project 1. Establish a regional entity to coordinate public transportation services, in order to:
• increase local service and administrative efficiencies;
• most efficiently leverage existing capacity and funding to capture new capacity and funding;
• provide a framework for regional public-private partnerships to implement public
transportation projects — e.g. identify broad needs, pool multiple resources and broker a
competitive market to meet needs;
• provide a one-stop shop for interested partners to get involved, and
• provide a one-stop shop for system users.
Project 2. Implement coordinated public transportation services along the Rt. 97 corridor,
linking Redmond, Bend and La Pine. The project will support and enhance existing services,
eliminate duplication of effort, expand services to address unmet needs, and increase private and
public resources dedicated to public transportation services.
The regional entity will receive guidance and advice from a broadly representative council of stakeholders,
including representatives of populations in need, transportation service providers, community service
organizations, municipalities and counties, and state agencies.
Vision Statement
The people and communities of Deschutes County are served by the improved coordination of existing public
transportation services and the creation of a permanent system of public transportation.
The countywide system is safe, affordable, reliable, accessible, environmentally sound, flexible, efficient,
responsive to diverse transportation needs, and coordinated with regional public transportation systems.
In short, public transportation and mobility services in Deschutes County are fast, fair, flexible and frequent.
Guiding Principles
Deschutes County and its public and private partners shall adhere to the following guiding principles in pursuit
of public transportation goals. These principles reflect a holistic approach to the provision of public
transportation services and therefore do not appear in any particular priority order:
1. Seek broad and diverse public involvement in the planning and implementation of public transportation
policies, programs and investments.
2. Avoid duplication of effort and leverage community investments by coordinating its public transportation
investments and programs with those of other local and regional governments, transportation service
providers, employers and community institutions.
3. Give priority to the transportation and mobility needs of special populations (the elderly, persons with
disabilities and persons who cannot afford to drive) and to persons seeking employment opportunities or
transportation options.
4. Build on existing public transportation assets to advance the goals and policies of the Comprehensive
Plan, Transportation Systems Plan and other related County policies.
5. Seek investment and program opportunities that provide multiple benefits by providing access to medical
and social services, employment, businesses and personal services, education, recreation and cultural
amenities.
6. Link coordinated public transportation services to pedestrian, bicycle and other multi -modal
transportation facilities.
7. Pursue adequate and sustained financing strategies to achieve the public transportation principles, goals
and action items set forth in this plan.
8. Establish measurable performance benchmarks and standards to guide and govern its public
transportation investments.
Planning Goals
Deschutes County establishes the following initial goals for public transportation planning and coordination.
1. Identify present and future transportation needs for people who live, work, conduct business, attend
school, seek medical and social services, and recreate in Deschutes County.
2. Align public transportation planning efforts with the goal of the Oregon Competitive Employment Project
to expand and develop transportation systems and services necessary for competitive employment of
individuals with disabilities.
3. Develop a shared vision for the ideal public transportation system for Deschutes County.
4. Identify steps to coordinate existing public transportation services and expand services to achieve the
shared vision.
5. Prioritize coordination initiatives based on the needs that would be met and the potential for success.
6. Maximize the use of public transportation funds to leverage state, federal and private investments in
public transportation services.
7. Implement top priority coordination projects.
Additional Projects for Future Consideration
Stakeholders identified the following additional projects to implement as resources and opportunities develop:
• Develop additional park and ride lots, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and other multi -model
developments to support the growing network of public transportation services.
• Expand the number of employer van pool programs.
• Develop and implement additional "spokes" of the public transportation network to Zink Redmond and
Bend to Prineville, Bend to Sisters, Sisters to Redmond and Redmond to Madras.
• Established fixed route services within each major population center.
• Develop facilitiators, navigators or case workers to help match clients to public transportation services,
and assist with service applications.
• Attract new public and private investors and service providers.
• Implement a volunteer recruitment and training program to increase the number of volunteer -based
transportation services.
• Develop a coordinated approach to insurance, training, maintenance, dispatch and other central support
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project Summary — October 11, 2007 — Page 2
services.
Desired System Characteristics
Coordinated public transportation services shall be designed and implemented to achieve the following
performance characteristics:
1. Increase the number and frequency of coordinated public transportation services linking major cities and
transportation corridors.
2. Increase the number of persons using coordinated public transportation services.
3. Increase access to public transportation services for populations with special needs.
4. Reduce the number of single -occupancy vehicle trips (SOV).
5. Reduce levels of air pollution, greenhouse gases and other environmental impacts of transportation.
6. Increase the number of modes of transportation used by residents.
7. Increase private and employer investments in public transportation services.
Priority Projects Implementation Plan
Project 1. Establish a regional entity to coordinate public transportation services, in order to:
• increase local service and administrative efficiencies;
• most efficiently leverage existing capacity and funding to capture new capacity and funding;
• provide a framework for regional public-private partnerships to implement public
transportation projects — e.g. identify broad needs, pool multiple resources and broker a
competitive market to meet needs;
• provide a one-stop shop for interested partners to get involved, and
• provide a one-stop shop for system users.
The regional entity will receive guidance and advice from a broadly representative council of stakeholders,
including representatives of populations in need, transportation service providers, community service
organizations, municipalities and counties, and state agencies.
Task Lead Partners Time-
frame
1. Establish Regional Coordination Organization
a. Engage in Regional Discussions
• entity should be regional in scope
and positioned to perform the
functions
Crook, Deschutes,
Jefferson Counties
Central Oregon Cities, Public
Transportation Providers, Human
Service Agencies, and ODOT PTD
12/07-
1/03
b. Designate Coordinating Organization
county commissions, city
councils, ODOT PTD,
other agencies
_
1/03
c. Develop Regional Coordinating Council
Designated Coord.
Organization
comprised of all above plus
counties, private sector
2/08
d. Develop Core Funding Plan:
• ID minimum core staff and overhead
requirements
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
2/08
e. Develop/Refine Transportation
Coordination Work Plan (see 2e below)
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
3/08
2. Implement Regional Coordination Work Plan
a. ID Project Funding to Implement Work
Plan
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
3/08
b. Conduct an Assessment of Existing
Services:
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
2/C8-4/08
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project Summary — October 11, 2007 — Page 3
Task
Lead
Partners
Time-
frame
• update coordination plans' resource
assessments
c. Conduct Market Analysis of
Transportation Demands:
• update and refine existing employer
and user group surveys
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
3/08.6/08
d. Develop a Clearinghouse of Regional
Transportation Information and
Resource/Referral Center:
• ID actual information needs and
clearinghouse Best Practices
• build cooperative agreements with
transportation providers
• Implement clearinghouse (website,
phone line, etc.)
• Implement resource/referral center
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
3/08.6/08
e. Develop Fiscal and Administrative
Functions:
• Develop cooperative agreement with
counties and ODOT PTD
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council,
Counties, ODOT PTD
1/08-2/08
f. Identify Next Project Implementation
Steps (e.g. inter-community shuttles,
expand MRB to broker general public
rides, shared maintenance facilities, etc.)
Designated Coord.
Organization
Regional Coordinating Council
at l.e.
above and
ongoing
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project Summary — October 11, 2007 — Page 4
Project 2. Implement coordinated public transportation services along the Rt. 97 corridor,
linking Redmond, Bend and La Pine. The project will support and enhance existing
services, eliminate duplication of effort, expand services to address unmet needs, and increase
private and public resources dedicated to public transportation services.
Task Lead
1. Establish Lead Administrative/Implementing Agency
Partners
Time-
frame
a. Survey for interest. Lead agency should:
• be eligible to receive multiple sources of
state/federal/local and other funding
• have capacity to engage in pre -funding
project development - and dedicate staff to
this effort
• have fiscal administrative capacity
Deschutes
County
Core Team
11/07
b. Designate lead implementation agency
Deschutes
County
Cities of Redmond, Bend, LaPine;
COIC; ODOT PTD
12/07
2. Establish Advisory/Technical Committee
a. Establish Advisory/Technical Committee
Lead
Agency
(comprised of local public
transportation providers, potential
public and private funding partners,
representatives of user populations
[e.g. human service agencies])
12/07
3. Identify Detailed Service Needs
a. Consider existing needs assessments
• ID minimum service target populations and
service goals
• Develop detailed needs assessment, based
on:
• "pulse" times for key commuting,
shopping, and appointments
• connectivity with and capacity of
existing services (e.g. BAT)
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee
1/08-2/08
4. Develop Service Plan
a. Identify and Secure Implementation Partners:
(i.e. those with a funding, operational, or
administrative role)
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee
12/07
b. Determine Coordination Opportunities:
• ID existing resources upon which to build;
• ID ongoing roles re: fiscal administration,
planning, operations
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee,
Implementation Partners
12/07-
2/08
c. Develop Service Plan:
• Hours/Days of operation, Geography, Stops,
Number of Trips/day, etc.
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee,
Implementation Partners
2/08-3/08
5. Develop Funding
a. ID Capital Purchases Needed and Budget, if
any:
• based on service plan and coordination
opportunities
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee,
ODOT PTD, Implementation
Partners
12/07 -
3/08
b. Develop Operation Budget
• based on service plan
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee,
ODOT PTD, Implementation
Partners
2/07-2./08
c. Apply for Grant Resources
Lead
Agency
Implementation Partners, ODOT
PTD
12/07
3/08
d. Apply for/Secure Local Match
Lead
Agency
Implementation Partners
12/07
3/08
6. Implement Service
a. Implement Pilot Period
• limited service (?)
Lead 1
Agency
Implementation Partners
4/08-';/08
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project Summary - October 11, 2007 - Page 5
Task
Lead
Partners
Time-
frame
• limited marketing
• assess ridership/demand/etc.
b. Implement Full Service
• adjust service based on findings of pilot
period
• market the service
Lead
Agency
Implementation Partners
6/08 -
ongoing
7. Monitor and Adjust Service
a. Monitor Service and Adjust As Necessary
Lead
Agency
Advisory/Technical Committee
6/08-
ongoin
Deschutes County Transportation Coordination Project Summary — October 11, 2007 — Page 6