Input Needed On Plan That Addresses Improvements For People With Special Transportation Needs

We've just finished with an update to the Spokane County Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) and want to make sure we're on the right track. The reason the HSTP is so important to get right (not that every document we do isn't) is because it's purpose is to  improve transportation services for people with disabilities, youth, older adults, and individuals with lower incomes in Spokane County. In other words, those who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or have special transportation needs. Without transportation options, they could very likely be stranded and isolated. 

The HSTP provides guidance to aid communities, agencies and service providers in coordinating transportation resources provided through federal and state programs. It includes an overview of population demographics in Spokane County, inventory of services that provide transportation, common origins and destinations for people with special transportation needs, an assessment of transportation issues and “gaps” in the system, and implementation strategies for addressing those gaps.

We'd like to hear from you if this document is on the right track and if we missed anything- whether it's challenges we didn't consider or transportation providers we don't know about. We're hosting a public meeting to provide members of the public a chance to review and provide input on the HSTP. It's from 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14 at SRTC, 221 W. 1st Ave., Suite 310. The meeting will be an open house format so you can come at any time during those hours.

If you can’t attend the meeting, the draft HSTP can be reviewed at http://www.srtc.org/. Comments may be emailed to contact.srtc@srtc.org, or mailed to SRTC at 221 W. 1^st Ave., Suite 310, Spokane, WA 99201. The comment period is September 26 through 4 p.m. on October 24, 2014