The Joblinks Employment Transportation Center at the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)has an upcoming webinar on Jan. 19 about using mobility management strategies for job access needs. A previous webinar on this topic is archived at http://ctaa.acrobat.com/p41899599/.
New Resources for Rural Transportation
The National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) releases its revised Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers training module, which contains a learner’s Guide, a self-paced eLearning course disc, an instructor’s guide, a disc with videos and a trainer’s PowerPoint presentation. These materials can be covered in a single day or over a series of days. The module is presented in stand-alone units designed to meet a multitude of transit agency requirements. It can be used in a classroom setting or by a single student, and is appropriate for both new and experienced transit drivers.
The training guide is also helpful for those who need an overview of emergency types, preparation procedures and responses.
RTAP also announces the relaunch of its peer network by adding mentors as participants. "Mentors are classified as peer participants who engage in long term technical assistance projects." The peer network is now also connected to the National RTAP Resource Center Library. More information is available at http://www.nationalrtap.org/.
Driver Transition Resource in Development
If you have not experienced the transition of a parent or other person close to you from life as a driver to the next step, know that this is an emotional and significant step. For some families this is a smooth transition, but for others there are months or years of worry that a loved one or a stranger will pay the cost of delaying a difficult and unwanted intervention. Having been the recipient of calls about such accidents, fortunately without terrible consequences, I point out the following new resource being developed by the National Center on Senior Transportation. (NCST is a technical assistance center administered by Easter Seals Inc., in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.)
NCST is funding a research project aimed at understanding how older adults think and feel about the mobility transitions in aging. The project has resulted in the production of a tool that will aid mobility counselors and social service professionals to assist older adults and their families to prepare for aging-related changes in mobility. The goal is to promote effective planning for the future and possible transitions.
Contact Lucinda Shannon at LShannon@easterseals.com for more information or to participate as an organization with mobility counselors serving older adults to assist in expanded utilization of the tool.
Technical Assistance News
Today, the NRC Technical Assistance News covers the blogs of the United We Ride Ambassadors and a new monthly NRC Director's column from none other than Chris Zeilinger.
Mobility Management Story
College towns tend to be harbingers of likely developments because what students have they expect in other places after graduation. In this case, University of Toledo students will have the opportunity to use a pre-paid taxi card. The card idea was a bit of a compromise because the taxi credit card technology would not accept the student debit cards, though that will probably be coming soon to some college town. The card system will notify students when balances go below $20 and the college is pushing for more taxi stands. A commercial enterprise is paying for the cards with the bargain of advertising on them. University officials hope that intoxicated students will pose less of a danger to themselves and others. The goal is that taxi availability and ease is one step toward putting the campus on the young, hip, and urban map.
