DRAFT The

Coordinated Plan

Coordinated P'ublic Transit

Human Se..Vices.Transportation Plan

9

MVPC

Endorsement Page

Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Endorsement of the 2020 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan

This document certifies that the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, at its meeting on xxx, hereby approves the endorsement of the 2020 Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan.The plan is being endorsed in accordance with the 3C Transportation Planning Process and complies with the requirements set forth in Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP 21).

Signatory Certification: Date: xxx

Stephanie Pollack
Secretary/CEO MassDOT
Joseph Costanzo
Administrator/CEO MYRTA


James Fiorentini Mayor, City of Haverhill


Jonathan L. Gulliver MassDOT Highway Division Administrator
Paul Materazzo
Town of Andover

Daniel Rivera
Mayor
City of Lawrence

John Cashell
Town of Georgetown

Neil Harrington

Town of Salisbury

Robert Snow
Town of Rowley

Theresa Park
MVPC Executive Director

Title VI Notice of Public Protection

The Merrimack Volley Planning Commission {MVPC) operates its programs, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination lows including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 {Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1 987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shalL on the grounds of race, color or notional origin {including limited English proficiency) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination lows administered by the Federal Highway Administration, the
Federal Transit Administration, or both prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex and disability. These protected categories ore contemplated within MVPC's Title VI Program consistent with federal interpretation and administration. Additionally, MVPC provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S.Deportment of Transportation policy and guido nee on federal Executive Order 131 66.
MVPC also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Low, M.G.L. Chapter 272, Sections 92o, 98, and 98o prohibiting making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based upon race, color, religious creed, no tional origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, MVPC complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, Section 4 requiring that all its programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based upon race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry,
no tional origin, disability, veteran's status {including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.

Additional Information

To request additional information regarding Title VI and related federal and state nondiscrimination obligations, please contact:
Title VI Program Coordinator
Merrimack Volley Metropolitan Planning Organization c/o Merrimack Volley Planning Commission

160 Main Street

Haverhill, MA 01830-5061
{978) 374-051 9, extension 1 5
AKomornick@mvpc.org

Complaint Filing

To file o complaint alleging a violation of Title VI or related federal nondiscrimination low, contact the Title VI Program Coordinator {above) within one hundred and eighty

{1 80) days of the alleged discriminatory conduct.

To file o complaint alleging a violation of the Commonwealth's Public Accommodation Low, contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination within three hundred {300) days of the alleged discriminatory conduct at:

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination {MCAD) One Ashburton Place, 61h Floor

Boston, MA 021 09

{617) 994-6000

TIY: {61 7) 994-6196

Translation

English

If this information is needed in another language, please contact the MVMPO Title

VI/Nondiscrimination Coordinator at 978-374-0519 ext. 15.

Spanish

Si necesita esta informacion en otro idioma, por favor contacte al coordinador de

MVMPO del Titulo VI/Contra Ia Discriminaci6n al 978-374-0519 ext. 15.

Portuguese

Coso estas informo<;oes sejom necess6rias em outro idioma, por favor, contate o

Coordenador de Titulo VI e de Nao Discrimina<;ao do MVMPO pelo telefone 978-374-

0519, Ramal 15.

Chinese Simplified

91l itlfl!tEiR§7MfL. i1--*Merrimack ValleyAt'xiJ .El .R (MVMPO) ((JSZ

$> m:R]j[t1J vt EE!,i5978-374-o519. 150

Chinese Traditional

91l itlfl!tith flil!it fhR. -Merrimack ValleyAt' ffliJ.flflm: (MVMPO) ((tl

! )) t:J, . 1i i5978-374-0519, Q15

Vietnamese

Neu quy vj can thong tin nay b ng tieng khac, vui long li€m hDieu phoi vi€m Lu t

VI/Chong phon bit doi xli cua MVMPO theo so din tho<;i 978-374-0519, so may nhanh

1 5.

French Creole

Si yon moun vie genyen enfomasyon sa yo nan yon lot lang, tonpri kontakte

Kowodinate kont Diskriminasyon/MVMPO Title VI Ia nan nimewo 978-374-051 9,

ekstansyon 15.

Russian

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cB >KVITecbcKoopAVIHOTopoM T tTyAa Vl/3aw t ra or AeCKPVIMVIHaUVIVIB MVMPOnmeA:

978-374-0519, A06aBO'iHbiC1 15.

French

Si vous ovez besoin d'obtenir une copie de Ia presente dans une outre langue, veuillez contacter le coordinateur du Titre VI/anti-discrimination de MVMPOen composant le

978-374-0519, poste 15.

Italian

Se ha bisogno di ricevere queste informazioni in un'altra lingua si prega di contattare il coordinatore del MVMPO del Titolo VI e dell'ufficio contro Ia discriminazione al 978-374-

0519 inferno 1 5.

Mon-Khmer, Cambodian

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Table of Contents

Contents

Endorsement Page .............................................................................................................. 1

Title VI Notice of Public Protection...................................................................................... 2

Table of Contents................................................................................................................. 5

I. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6

What is the Coordinated Plan? ....................................................................................... 6

II. Population Projections .................................................................................................. 7

Ill. Assess Current Transportation Resources................................................................10

Merrimac Volley Regional Transit Authority {MYRTA) ...................................................1 0

Human Service Transportation .......................................................................................1 2

Service to Boston .............................................................................................................13

Other Transportation Providers .......................................................................................14

Transportation Coordino tion...........................................................................................15

IV. Identify Unmet Transportation Needs .....................................................................1 7

Unmet Transportation Needs ..........................................................................................1 7

V. Prioritized Strategies .....................................................................................................20

VI. Conclusion ................................................................................................................21

The preparation of this report has been financed under contracts #95416 and MA-80-x013 between the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and with the cooperation of the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority.

I. Introduction

What is the Coordinated Plan?

The primary purpose of the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) is to identify the unmet transportation needs for seniors and individuals with disabilities as well as strategies for addressing them. The Coordinated Plan is tied directly to the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) 5310 grant program. An entity may apply for grants under this program only if the service is included in the Coordinated Plan.
According to the FTA, the purpose of the 5310 grant program is ' to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation service and expanding transportation mobility options. This program supports transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities in all areas." 1
Projects eligible under the 531 0 grant program included traditional and non-traditional services:
Traditional:
• Purchase buses and vans
• Purchase and installation of wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices
• Transit-related information technology systems including scheduling/routing/one­
call systems
• Implement mobility management programs
• Acquisition of transportation services under a contract, lease, or other arrangement (both capitol and operating costs ore eligible capital expenses)
Non-Traditional:
• Provide travel training
• Volunteer driver programs
• Building an accessible path to a bus stop including curb-cuts, sidewalks, accessible pedestrian signals or other accessible features
• Improving signage or way-finding technology
• Incremental cost of providing some day service or door-to-door service
• Purchasing vehicles to support new accessible taxi, rides sharing and/or vonpooling programs

• Mobility management

1 FTA Fact Sheet, ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIESChapter 53

Section 5310.

https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/ docs/funding/grants/37971I5310-enhanced­

mobility-seniors-and-individuals-disabilities-fact-sheet.pdf

II. Population Projections

The region's share of Massachusetts' population has been growing at a relatively constant rote, from 4.79% in 1990 to approximately 5.1 5% as counted in the 2013-2017

American Community Survey. The Merrimack Volley Region's population is expected to grow by 14% between 2010 and 2040, which is slightly higher than the projected rote of increase in the total population of Massachusetts ( 12.7%) (Table 1). In addition, the population of ages 65+ is expected to significantly increase. Table 2 shows that the proportion of seniors to the whole population is due to increase from 10% to 25%.

These population changes hove on impact on transit needs. As the population ages, there is a greater need for transportation for those who may be more fragile and hove health issues. Projections for people with disabilities in Massachusetts hove not been mode. However, Table 3 shows the number of people who self-identified as having one of the following disabilities: difficult with hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care or independent living.

Table 1

MVRTA Region Population Projections (Source: MassDOT)

% Change

2010-

Community 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2040

Amesbury 16,450 16,283 16,852 17,391 17,800 9% Andover 31,247 33,201 35,029 36,503 37,724 14% Boxford 7,921 7,965 7,907 7,697 7,400 -7% Georgetown 7,377 8,183 8,848 9,178 9,442 15% Groveland 6,038 6,459 6,731 6,786 6,781 5% Haverhill 58,969 60,879 65,090 67,340 69,095 13% Lawrence 72,043 76,377 83,789 86,562 88,691 16% Merri mac 6,138 6,338 6,596 6,623 6,587 4% Methuen 43,789 47,255 52,711 56,453 59,900 27% Newbury 6,717 6,666 6,673 6,708 6,680 0% Newburyport 17,189 17,416 17,993 18,407 18,673 7% North Andover 27,202 28,352 30,048 31,159 32,045 13% North Read i ng 13,837 14,892 15,264 15,732 16,912 14% Rowley 5,500 5,856 6,241 6,463 6,638 13%

•

Higher than the state's projected growth.

Table 2

Projected Population of People Ages 65+

Amesbury 2,011 2,403 3,075 3,885 4,680 5,203 5,531 31% Andover 4,453 5,445 6,593 7,650 8,495 8,703 8,631 23% Boxford 1,049 1,316 1,648 2,072 2,379 2,428 2,309 31% Georgetown 924 1,262 1,635 2,047 2,422 2,599 2,654 28% Groveland 973 1,230 1,531 1,902 2,177 2,330 2,361 35% Haverhill 7,405 8,641 10,590 12,965 15,291 16,885 17,529 25% Lawrence 6,557 7,466 8,872 10,460 11,887 12,920 13,521 15% Merrimac 842 1,048 1,310 1,608 1,933 2,158 2,173 33% Methuen 6,521 7,574 9,037 10,806 12,288 13,062 13,354 22% Newbury 924 1,251 1,692 2,161 2,610 2,859 2,903 43% Newburyport 2,880 3,741 4,734 5,647 6,469 6,933 7,008 38% North Andover 3,768 4,523 5,541 6,624 7,733 8,503 8,734 27% North Reading 1,845 2,245 2,778 3,414 3,960 4,348 4,393 26% Rowley 672 947 1,308 1,745 2,086 2,270 2,291 35% Salisbury 1,260 1,638 2,011 2,461 2,888 3,140 3,253 36% West Newbury 484 675 943 1,182 1,398 1,467 1,460 34%

Regional Pop.

Table 3

Disabled Population (ACS 2013-2017;Table 51810)

Total With a

Community Population Disability %

Amesbury 16,992 2,354 14%

35,099 2,101 6%

Disabled population numbers represent those who self-identified as

Andover

Boxford 8,228 613 7% Georgetown 8,569 719 8% Groveland 6,697 687 10% Haverhill 62,297 8,448 14% Lawrence 78,694 10,131 13% Merrimac 6,728 910 14% Methuen 49,253 5,427 11% Newbury 6,957 552 8% Newburyport 17,628 1,603 9% North Andover 29,873 2,395 8% North Reading 15,493 1,228 8% Rowley 6,180 469 8% Salisbury 8,988 1,220 14% West Newbury 4,545 414 9% Totals 362,221 39,271 11%

having one of the following disabilities: difficult with hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care or independent living.

Ill. Assess Current Transportation Resources

This section details many of the existing services being provided in the Merrimack Valley.

Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA)

The MVRTA is the primary provider of public transportation in the Merrimack Volley region. The MVRTA service district consists of the following 1 6 communities: Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, HaverhilL Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury. While Rowley is within the service area, the Town has chosen not to receive transit services.

Fixed Route: MVRTA operates 17 local fixed bus routes, 4 intercity routes, 1 employment route and 1 seasonal beach bus.The majority of fixed bus routes provide service in the greater Lawrence and Haverhill areas. Regional routes connect Lawrence to Lowell (Route 41), Lawrence to Haverhill (Route 01), Haverhill to Amesbury (Route 51) and Amesbury/Newburyport/Salisbury (Route 54).

Fares:

• Full fare one way: $1.25 cash; $1 with the Charlie Card.

• Seniors 60+: $.60

• Various passes are available.

• Routes 34, 37 and 85 are free all day.

Table 4 MVRTA Fixed Route Operating Characteristics

Routes Weekday Weekday Saturday Saturday Sunday Hours Sunday

Hours Frequency Hours Frequency Frequency Route 01 SAM- 8PM 30 min 7AM-7PM 60 min 9AM-6PM 60 min Haverhill- 5:30AM -7PM 60 min 7AM- 90 mn 9:30AM - 6PM 90 min based 7:30PM

Lawrence- SAM - 8PM 30 Peak; 7AM- 60 min 9AM - 6PM 60 min based 60 Off Peak 7PM

Route 41 4:45AM - 8PM 30 min 7AM- 60 min 9AM -6PM 60 min

7PM

Route 54 SAM - 7:30PM 70 min 7:30AM- 70 min 9AM -6PM 70 min

7:30PM

Route 56 7AM - 4PM 90 min n/a n/a n/a n/a

Route 75 5:55/7AM n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

3:20/4:20PM

Route 83 8:15/10:45AM; n/a Same as n/a 9:15/11:45AM; n/a

1:50/4:20PM Weekday 1:50/4:20PM

ADA EZTrans: The MYRTA operates required curb-to-curb ADA service within% mile of the fixed bus route system to those qualified customers. Non-ADA service is provided beyond the % mile area for those 65+ and/or qualified for ADA service.

Fares: $2.00 one way within the %-mile zone.

Non- ADA EZTrans: The MYRTA operates an on-demand service within communities that receive fixed-route to customers who are 60 years and older. Hours:8AM-5PM Monday­ Friday

Fares: Vary between $3-$5 based on a zone system.

Ring & Ride: This curb-to-curb service is primarily operated in those Merrimack Valley communities not receiving fixed bus route service. Exceptions include Ring & Ride service in Methuen and Andover. North Reading Ring & Ride service is provided to destinations outside the MYRTA system.

Fares: Varies by community

Medi-Ride Service: In response to public input, the MYRTA instituted on-demand service from Merrimack Valley communities to select Peabody- and Boston-based hospitals

and medical centers. The service is available to anyone registered with Special Services department.

Fare: $8.00 one way

Salem, NH Employment Shuttle: MYRTA provides an advanced phone request service for residents of Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen and North Andover.The service provides weekday rides from o passenger's residence to their jobs on Rt. 28 in Salem, NH. For those who are looking to be employed by a business located on R t. 28 in Salem, NH, temporary status will be granted to allow passengers to ride the Employment Run while applying for jobs in two week increments.Service hours are Monday thru Friday from 5:00am to 8:00pm excluding holidays.

Boston Commuter Service: The MYRTA operates commuter bus from Methuen, Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to several destinations in downtown Boston. More information provided in the 'Services to Boston' section.

Table 5: MVRTA Ridership FY2010-FY2018

Change

Service FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 17-18

Fixed Route 2,024,281 2,175,917 2,285,958 2,157,133 2,046,556 -5%

Boston

Commuter 63,207 62,994 65,627 63,104 60,765 -4%

Special Services 66,271 62,228 63,192 70,534 77,962 11%

Total 2,153,759 2,301,139 2,414,777 2,290,771 2,185,283 -5%

Human Service Transportation

Cape Ann Transit Authority provides human service transportation for the Merrimack

Valley. These rides are for clients who qualify for specific state programs.

Table 6: Cape Rides provided by Cape Ann Transit for Human Services Transportation in or to the Merrimack Valley

Service to Boston

Almost 1 2,000 people commute to Boston every day for work from the Merrimack Valley (ACS 2001 1-201 5). There are several options for taking transit to Boston.The services provided by the commuter coach companies as well as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and MYRTA provide a menu of options for accessing these alternatives as well as providing more than one option for destinations in Boston.

There are no buses to the Route 128 corridor business district from the Merrimack Valley.

Table 7: Bus and Rail Options for Boston Commuting

Coach

Bus

Georgetown

Haymarket,Government

Ctr,Park Street,St. James 2

$8.20 Georgetown

Co. Boxford Avenue,Copley Square $8.70 Boxford

C&J Bus Newburyport South Station,Logan 22 $16/$114 {10 rides) Airport

Methuen Park & Ride

McGovern Government Center Transportation Ctr, Cambridge/Somerset Sts Lawrence

Broadway, Lawrence Park Street

MVRTA Bus

Mt. Vernon, Lawrence

Stuart/Tremont Sts 3 $6/$50 {10 rides)

Shawsheen Square, Park Place South

Copley Square

Andover

Faith Lutheran Church, South Station

Andover

Government Ctr,

North Andover: Cambridge/Somerset Sts,

MVRTA Bus West Mill Park Street, 1 $6/$50 {10 rides) Massachusetts Ave Stuart/Tremont Sts,Park

Place South,Copley

Square,South Station

Newburyport $12.25

MBTA Rail Rowley North Station 17 Newburyport

$11.00 Rowl ey

Other Transportation Providers

Many non-profit organizations provide transportation services primarily for people who participate in their programs. Transportation is not their mission, but they fill a need for many of their members and clientele.

Relatively few organizations open transportation services to the general public. Many, though not all, Merrimack Volley Councils on Aging (COAs) own vans and provide limited transportation services for shopping, medical appointments and accessing COA programs. Those Councils on Aging with transportation programs include:

• Andover (received a grant in 201 9 for a von purchase)

• Georgetown

• Groveland

• Merrimac

• Newburyport

• North Andover

• Rowley

• Salisbury (received a grant in 201 9 for a von purchase)

• West Newbury

In addition, many COAs work with the Northern Essex Elder Transport (NEET) to coordinate volunteer drivers for medical appointments. NEET drivers provide approximately 260 one-way trips per month to elders in the Merrimack Volley. Elders using NEET must be ambulatory. Volunteers ore reimbursed for their expenses associated with providing transportation in their own cars. Their demand-response service is currently provided Monday thru Friday between 6 AM and 6 PM.

The Northeast Independent living Program provides transportation to its clientele, but will also provide transportation to other veterans and disabled persons upon request.

Elder Services of Merrimack Valley has initiated a pilot program to provide lost resort transportation for seniors to medical appointments in the Greater Lowell area. This includes elders living in the Merrimack Volley region needing to go to appointments in the Greater Lowell area.

Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft hove increasingly provided transportation throughout the region. While Massachusetts does collect information about the number of rides provided by these companies, we do not hove information about time of day, day of week, etc. The table below provides a glimpse into the transportation provided by these companies.

Table 8: Rides Provided by Transportation Network

Companies in the Merrimack Valley

ACS 13-17 TNC Rides Rides per Community Population Origin 2018 Capita Amesbury 17,218 9,984 0.58

Andover 35,375 85,159 2.41

Boxford 8,228 2,526 0.31

Georgetown 8,569 2,488 0.29

Groveland 6,697 1,903 0.28

Haverhill 62,943 104,076 1.65

Lawrence 79,497 350,752 4.41

Merrimac 6,752 1,386 0.21

Methuen 49,575 104,578 2.11

Newbury 6,964 4,343 0.62

Newburyport 17,890 26,196 1.46

North Andover 30,170 55,409 1.84

Rowley 6,232 1,989 0.32

Salisbury 9,021 9,109 1.01

West Newbury 4,545 1,272 0.28

Total 349,676 761,170 2.18

Transportation Coordination

Mass Ride Match

Ride Match was created in 2010 to provide an on-line searchable directory of transportation providers. Understanding how hard it is for customers to identify transportation service providers across the Commonwealth, the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) initiated this project to help "fill the gaps and provide the state's most vulnerable populations, and the agencies that serve them, with a way to easily identify all the transportation options within their communities." After testing it out locally, GATRA expanded the program statewide. GATRA provided the following information on those searches conducted between January-August 2019 that originated in the Merrimack Valley region. Mass Ride Match can be found at www.massridematch.org. Overall, the data shows that not many people are using the service in the Merrimack Valley. This could be due to a lack of knowledge about the service or that they learn about services elsewhere, such as through the Councils on Aging.

Figure 9:Number of Users of Mass Ride Figure 10: Mass Ride Match Search by

Match Service (January-August 2019) Purpose (January-August 2019)

City Users New Sessions Trip Purpose Number

Users of

Amesbury 64 63 73 Searches

Andover 105 102 113 Medicai/Healthcare 379

Boxford 11 10 12 Employment 240

Georgetown 6 6 6 Other 169

Groveland 13 13 13 Education 100

Haverhill 229 224 282 Commuting 81

Lawrence 260 257 379 Recreation 71

Merrimac 2 2 2 Business 55

Methuen 135 128 155 Boston hospital trips 43

Newburyport 48 48 63 Shopping 38

North Andover 75 73 83 Dialysis center 13

North Reading 10 9 16 Adult daycare 8

Rowley 6 6 6 Religious 7

Salisbury 6 6 7 ADA- No restrictions on trip 5

West Newbury 6 6 6 purpose

Newbury 0 0 0 Airport service 5

Totals 976 953 1,216 No restrictions on trip purpose. 2

Grand Total of Searches with 1206

Type

Total Number of Searches 1754

IV. Identify Unmet Transportation Needs

The 2020 Coordinated Plan draws upon several sources of public input including:

• 2019 Haverhill Transit Needs Report, MYRTA.

• The 2020 Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan survey.

• City of Lawrence Age-Friendly survey, preliminary findings based on the first 500 surveys.

• Outreach conducted for the 2020 Merrimack Volley Regional Transportation Plan, such as meetings with Veterans and the meeting with Chinese-speaking elders.

• Coordinated Plan Public Meeting held on Jonuory 23, 201 9 at Phoenix Row senior housing.

• Meeting with Asian elders on January 17, 2020.

• Massachusetts Public Health Association legislative breakfast held at the

Lawrence Center on January 10, 2020.

• Individual meetings.

Unmet Transportation Needs

lgure 11 unmet Needs

V. Prioritized Strategies

Strategies ore based on the feedback from the public at the different outreach meetings and from the surveys. Strategies were grouped when appropriate. At our final outreach meeting prior to drafting the plan, participants were asked to tell us how they would prioritize those strategies. The list represents that prioritization. Note that many of the identified unmet needs provide details to the strategies listed below.

Service Expansion

• Purchase of vehicles

• Expanded service: 30 minutes, holidays, nights and weekends

• Service outside of the Merrimack Valley including:

o Service to New Hampshire.
o Coordination and service connections between transit authorities in
Massachusetts
o Better connections for Veterans
o Service to additional medical centers on the North Shore (MossGenerol north) and in Boston (St. Elizabeth's Hospital)
o Connections to medical appointments in Danvers/Peabody/Ipswich for
Ring & Ride communities
o Better connections to border communities
• Micro Transit: Uber/Lyft partnerships or Microtronsit zones "Uber style" Transit

Service Support

The following ideas would enhance or support existing and expanded services.
• Bus Stops/snow removal around bus stops
• More marketing and information, such as system mop

• Partner with healthcare providers to get their support

• Create a voucher program

• Training including more training for service use and train the trainer programs

• Recruit more volunteer drivers

• Sharing resources and partner services for senior/programs for people with disabilities

• Shorter pick-up windows

• More options for service

VI. Conclusion

The information provided in the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan resulted from meetings with residents and representatives of organizations who work with those who use transit. The plan provides an overview of existing services, identifies the unmet transportation needs and gaps in the Merrimack Valley and provides prioritized strategies.

Projects funded through the 5310 federal grant program must appear in this plan. Implementation of these strategies is primarily based on funding a vailability and feasibility.