INFORMED. SAFER. SMARTER. The Communications Control Unit enhances the passenger’s travel experience by providing GPS-controlled next stop and service related messages in both audible and visual format. To learn more, visit www.telephonics.com/transit-communications APRIL/MAY 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 15 Jickling said while they oversee providing service to the community, they might not be the ones providing that. “We may not be the ones providing that in the future, but we’ll help you get it. Paratransit is the fi rst big starting point for that, using taxis or TNCs, brokering things out instead of it having to be one of our cutaway access vans that has to pick you up. I think partnering is a big part of what it will be going forward.” A new mobility center was built at RTC’s Centennial Plaza in Sparks, where in-house eligibility and travel training will be conducted. Th ere will be multiple fl oor surfaces, a bus mock-up and when the weather is nice, they can use the outdoors with the fi xed-route buses right there at the center. Susi Trinidad, paratransit specialist, said there will be a lot of effi ciencies bringing the travel training and eligibility assessment in house. From previous paratransit studies, they’ve seen their denials have been very low and the conditional availabilities have been below 15 percent. Going forward, Jenna Jacobs, paratransit & eligibility mobility specialist, said people can access a PDF online or can call to get one mailed. Aft er completing the PDF, they call to set up an assessment, do the assessment and go from there. RTC will also have the ability to even provide them an ID card right at the time of coming in for the assessment if applicable. A Bright Future In a mid-sized metropolitan area, an area where revenue generation may have an opportunity in joint development, Gibson said there is potential around BRT stations and RTC has some surplus property resources. “We’re going to look at aff ordable housing opportunities and joint development where we may be able to partner with the developer to address the critical shortage we have in this community of aff ordable housing,” Gibson said. “Th ose are the kinds of strategies for revenue generation ... and demonstrates to the public that we’re maximizing, to the extent we can, all of our opportunities to raise revenue and devote that revenue to the system. “I think that’s the big issue that we’re going to be facing here in the next couple years.” Gibson continued, “How do we partner in the aff ordable housing solution? Does joint development and developments around transit stations off er a way for us to capture revenue and help be a partner to deliver the critically needed aff ordable housing the community needs?” Jickling said of RTC, “We’re the biggest little transit agency. I hate to use that silly little thing but we always compare ourselves to our peers. We’re consistently in the top four in just about every measure that is favorable in that peer group and that’s pretty important. “We’re not afraid to try new things.” ENHANCING MASS TRANSIT COMMUNICATIONS © Telephonics I www.telephonics.com For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/12327045
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