The Environmental Barrier Analysis Pierce Transit Logo Presented

The Environmental Barrier Analysis Pierce Transit Logo Presented By Frances Rankos Travel Instructor Bee Davis Travel Trainer

Who are we? Pierce Transit Travel Instruction is a program for older adults and people with disabilities, other then blindness. The main goals of the program are to increase the customers’ abilities and promote selfsufficiency while facilitating the most suitable and efficient transportation service for each individual. Ride. Wise is a collaborative effort designed to promote independent travel of older adults and people with disabilities by providing access to information, training and support.

What do we do? Pierce Transit Travel Instructors provide a free customized instruction program for older adults and people with disabilities. The program offers, Transit Orientation or Familiarization for individuals and small groups. One-on-One Travel Training is either a Short Term or Comprehensive program, depending on the customer’s skill level. For each customer, an assessment of Individual ability; path of travel; site assessment, barrier analysis and trip plan are completed. Field Training is taught in the community, crossing streets, riding public transportation and in real time whenever possible. During training the customer’s travel skills are evaluated to determine their level of progress, staying on task and traveling safely. We provide the assistance for each person to successfully learn how to use Pierce Transit buses independently.

What do we do? Ride Connection’s Ride. Wise travel trainers are working oneon-one with customers to assist them with safely navigating the transportation systems in our region. This work consists of; assessing the individual’s ability level, developing goals for independent travel, completing barrier analyses, providing field training and evaluating travel skills to determine when and if an individual can successfully exit out of the program, reaching their goals and meeting proficiencies on independent travel.

What is our system like? • Founded in 1979, Pierce Transit operates 32 local & 13 regional routes. More then 10 million trips taken in 2016. • Service area of 292 square miles of Pierce County with roughly 70% of the county population. • Operates three types of service, Fixed Route, SHUTTLE paratransit and Vanpool. • Sources of operating capital revenue: . 6% local sales taxes, passenger fares, FTA and operating regional service. • All accessible buses • 8 transit centers • 3900 bus stops

What is our system like? • Trimet is the primary transit provider. More than 101 million trips taken each year • 77 Bus lines -12 of which are frequent service lines along a 164 mile Frequent Service Network carrying 57% of all bus trips • 6591 bus stops • 5 LRT Lines • 18 Major Transit Centers connecting bus lines and/or the Light Rail • All vehicles are accessible • Service area of 530 square miles • 62 Park & Rides

Environmental Barrier Analysis • Prior to the conducting a barrier analysis, travel trainers complete an in-person initial interview. • A thorough in-person interview allows us to complete a more effective analysis of likely barriers for each individual. • If one-on-one travel training is a suitable level of service, the analysis for the trip is completed.

Environmental Barrier Analysis The typical barrier analysis includes: 1. Trip Planning 2. Riding the entire route, carefully examining the path of travel 3. Conducting the Environmental Barrier Analysis 4. Identification of potential physical and social barriers 5. Determine if alternate routes and stops are needed and available

Tools of The Trade Trimet. org - Trip Planner, Transit Tracker, Service Alerts, etc. Route Map System Map – Light Rail Transit and connecting lines Schedules Transit Tracker by phone – real-time arrival information

Tools for Pierce Transit • Pierce Transit has an ADA Eligibility Program for the SHUTTLE (paratransit) service. Each applicant submits an 6 page application. Pierce Transit has 21 days to determine eligibility. • Various Assessment Tools Used; ADA Assessment (Briotix) contractors can monitor health issues Mini Mental Skills Evaluation (Briotix) FACTS Test –Easter Seals (contracted) CATS- Community Assessment of Travel Skills (Easter Seals & Travel Instructors) • Mobility Device Assessment –Travel Instructors • Travel Training Accessibility Checklist – Travel Instructors • • Applicants that receive temporary or conditional eligibility are referred to Travel Training.

Ride. Wise Travel Training Program If you are an older adult (60+) or person with a disability and live in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington County, you can request travel training. Fill out a Travel Training Request form online or give us a call at 503. 226. 0700 and we will get you going. • Public transit info: Information is sometimes all it takes to get someone traveling independently on transit. We are at the ready to provide support and knowledge over the phone • One-on-one travel training: Personalized, hands-on experience using our regional transit system • Group transit trips: Group trips are designed to help people feel comfortable with the transit system in a social, relaxed environment • Support for educators: We provide technical assistance and support, which may include fare for staff, for those providing transit training in the classroom.

Tools of The Trade

The Wise. Guide (Customer Information Management System)

Barriers to independent travel • Environmental Barriers • Barriers along the path of travel may include a lack of curb cuts, the curb cut itself, sidewalks, crosswalks, the shelters/benches or even appropriate signage could be cited as a barrier. Example of a marked pedestrian crossing without a curb cut at a 3 -way stop.

Barriers to independent travel Temporary STOP sign placed in the middle of a sidewalk Confusing signage at a temporary transit center

Barriers to Independent Travel • Physical barriers to independent travel may include, but are certainly not limited to: • • • Vision Hearing Speech Health concerns Stamina Mobility

Barriers to Independent Travel Social Barriers to independent travel may include: • An inability to be around large groups of people • Crowded bus lines • Rail or bus platforms • Unsafe locations around the city

Barriers along the path of travel • Knowing the path of travel is a critical component in preparation of training. The path of travel is defined as origin to destination, including but not limited to: crosswalks, sidewalk to the bus stop, bus or MAX, sidewalk to the destination, and the destination itself.

Other Considerations Other factors to consider are: • The trainee may live too far from a bus line or the location of the bus stop might be in an unsafe place. • Amount of walking required for the trip • Length of trip • Number of transfers • Hours of service on bus line

Problem Areas in Portland, OR 1 3 2 4

Problem Areas in Portland, OR 5 7 6 8

Travel Training Scenarios • Read the information about each customer and check the photos. • The customers are referrals from eligibility, school districts and individuals. • Consider how the barriers impact each customer’s ability to travel independently. • What are your solutions to work around these barriers.

Shameless plug for the Portland Aerial Tram