Missoula Ravalli Transportation Management Asssociation Inc

Programs: Vanpool activities:the first missoula ravalli transportation management association (mrtma) vanpool began operating between hamilton and missoula on august 11, 1997. The initial ridership consisted of 4-6 daily commuters, and 2-3 occasional riders. During the course of the first week of operation, the number of individuals riding continued to increase. By the end of the second week of operation, there were 11 consistent commuters. As of june 30, 2015, there were nineteen vans in the vanpool program. In fy 2015, the vanpool program served commuters living in rural areas located outside the missoula urban area. The vanpools now serve communities in 5 counties and 76 different work sites. The vanpool participants contribute to the program by covering the weekly gas costs and a portion of the insurance and maintenance costs. The vanpool program continues to grow at an increasing rate. The popularity and awareness of this program is ever growing. The value of this program is evident by the coordination and cooperation of the riders of the various vanpools. Currently there are wait lists of 21 individuals. The agency has had several inquires from companies and agencies serving adults with disabilities about starting vanpools to accommodate their work schedules which usually don't coincide with the fixed route bus services. Carpool activities: carpool activities continue to supplement the vanpool program. The rideshare program, which matches commuters with similar home and work pickup and drop off points within a certain area is continually being offered to those commuters unable to utilized the vanpool service. This service continues to be instrumental in providing an additional option for those commuters that might have non-traditional work schedules or work in an area of missoula that is not currently being served by the vanpool or local transit system. Commuters receive a list of potential partners and are encouraged to solicit those individuals on the list to form a carpool. Program benefits summary (vanpool and carpools combined):combined statistics since the inception of the carpool and vanpool programs in 1996 through june 30, 2015 show a total of 559,150 vehicle trips saved; 27,114,943 miles not traveled and 1,062. 13 tons of reduction in vehicle emissions. Guaranteed ride home: mrtma continues to contract with yellow cab company, bitterroot bus and cskt tribal transit to provide a guaranteed ride home service to all of mrtmas registered carpoolers and vanpoolers. The plan provides emergency transportation for persons who are carpooling or vanpooling within a fifty miles radius of missoula. If an emergency arises and the individual needs a ride home and doesnt have transportation available, they simply call a cab. The cab driver will pick the person up at their employment site and drives them to the appropriate park-and-ride lot. There is no charge to the individual, as long as they are registered with mrtma within the carpool and vanpool programs. Currently there are approximately 30,000+ people eligible for the grh program. Park and ride system: park and ride sites have been established at various stops along the vanpool routes extending to the rural areas west and north of missoula. Before originating a new vanpool, mrtma staff travels the route to determine the best and safest places to implement these parking areas for commuters. Businesses and individuals are contacted about assisting in establishing these park and ride locations. All people contacted have been supportive of the vanpool service and most people have agreed to join in the effort by allowing the use of part of their parking areas. Letters are then sent to each individual to confirm and document the verbal agreement made by both parties in establishing these areas for this specific use. Lake county:mrtma staff serves as the chair of the lake county transportation advisory committee. In the fiscal year 2014-2015 staff has assisted the confederated salish and kootenai tribes and the lake county council on aging in securing 5310 capital assistance, 5311 operating assistance and transade funding from the montana department of transportation. Staff has also assisted in securing coordination agreements in the development of community transportation coordination plans with many area providers. Staff has provided technical support and training for lake county council on aging. Staff continues to meet with tribal members on an as needed basis to troubleshoot and facilitate expansion of the existing system. Staff assisted in securing a community transportation association of america tribal technical assistance grant which will study methodologies to coordinate services and efficiencies of transit programs in lake, sanders and mineral counties. Ravalli county:mrtma staff serves as the vice chair of the ravalli county transportation advisory committee. During fy 2015 staff provided technical assistance to the bitterroot bus and assisted in developing the community transportation coordination plan. Sanders county:mrtma staff serves as the vice chair of the sanders county transportation advisory committee. During fy 2015 staff provided technical assistance to the sanders county council on aging transportation services. Mineral county:mrtma staff serves as the vice chair of the mineral county pioneer council transportation advisory committee. During fy2015 staff provided technical assistance to the council's volunteer board. Other activitiesthe executive director received notification of being appointed to the national highway cooperative searcher program (nchrp) project 20-65. The executive director presented at the ctaa expo on vanpools. The executive director is serving as the state delegate for the community transportation association of america. Staff was served as chair of the transportation cooperative research program fy2015 screening panel. Montana transit association: membership stands at 84 as of june 30, 2015. The mtas spring conference was organized and held in great falls april 21-24, 2014 and attended by 84 participants. Concurrent safety training for operators drew an additional 30 participants. Mrtma staff developed the conference theme, agenda, budget and publicity materials and coordinated all aspects of registration, presenters and site logistics. Staff conducted the fall business meeting in billings on september 12th at the crowne plaza inn, prior to the state bus roadeo. Thirty people attended the meeting. Topics of discussions centered on 2016 event planning, funding and legislation. Events to be planned in 2016 - spring conference in helena and state bus roadeo and fall business meeting - butte. Mrtma staff organized the montana statewide bus roadeo event in september. Twenty six participants from fixed route and paratransit systems throughout the state competed in billings on a course designed to test driving skills under everyday conditions. The one-day event includes course set-up, practice time, a family-oriented bbq, judging, the competition with written test, pre-trip inspection and wheelchair securement stations. A total of 75 people were involved in this years roadeo, including the participants, staff, host system, judges and guests. As the mta coordinator, mrtma staff has also been responsible for the association budget and contract billing, reporting activities to the executive board and members, address legislative issues, disseminating information to members and serving as a resource to them. Conferences and professional development: during the reporting period, mrtma staff attended the three-day community transportation association of americas annual conference in tampa, fl. The two-day montana department of transportation transit management training. Mrtma staff serves on the following committees: lake county transportation advisory committee (chair), ravalli county transportation advisory committee (vice chair), sanders county transportation task force (vice-chair); mineral county pioneer council (vice chair); missoula transportation technical advisory committee; missoula specialized transportation advisory committee, ctaa state delegate, transportation cooperative research program screening panel and f-22 project.