Mobility Management Program
In 2013, the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) completed a Mobility Management Alternatives Study through its Unified Planning Work Program. The study provided information on the needs, resources, best practices, and implementation issues associated with mobility management. SCRCOG, in conjunction with the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG), Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), and stakeholders from the region, developed a program to improve access to transportation services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
In 2014, SCRCOG received funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5317 New Freedom Program and CTDOT to develop a Mobility Management Program for the Region. An advisory committee with representatives from RiverCOG, CTDOT, Transit Providers and other stakeholders was established. SCRCOG contracted with The Kennedy Center to operate the Mobility Management Program for the region.
In 2015, the Kennedy Center began work, and with their help, a customized website and brand for the Region was developed. The website provides a one-stop resource for transportation services available in the 32 municipalities covered by SCRCOG’s Regional Mobility Management Program. These municipalities include Bethany, Branford, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Haddam, Hamden, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Orange, Portland, Wallingford, Westbrook, West Haven, and Woodbridge.
Today, the regional Mobility Manager is available to help individuals find the public transit option that works best for him or her. The Mobility Manager also works to identify gaps and barriers within the public transportation network that prevent riders from using existing services. Once gaps have been identified, the advisory committee works with the Kennedy Center to find creative solutions.
South Central Region Mobility Management Website: http://waytogoct.org/mobility-management/.
Program History – LOCHSTP
In 2007, SCRCOG partnered with the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency (now the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments) to develop the South Central Urbanized Area’s Locally Coordinated Public Transit Human Service Transportation Plan (LOCHSTP). The 25 municipalities within the South Central Urbanized Area and included in the plan are: Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Hamden, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Orange, Wallingford, Westbrook, West Haven and Woodbridge.
LOCHSTP identified gaps in services and recommended strategies to improve access to transportation services for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Specifically, LOCHSTP recommended that Human Service Transportation and Public Transportation information should be made available through a one-stop resource. As a next step toward implementing the LOCHSTP recommendations, SCRCOG completed a Mobility Management Alternatives Study through its FY 2013 Unified Planning Work Program. The study provided information on the needs, resources, best practices, and implementation issues associated with mobility management.