July 2006
In this edition
  • What is the RTCC?
  • RTCC off to a Great Start
  • Snap-Shot of Currently Available Transit Services
  • Feedback on Public Transit Coordination Barriers and Opportunities
  • Final Workshops and RTCC Speakers' Bureau
  • Where Are We Now?
    • RTCC Off to a Great Start
    The first six months of 2006 has been packed with action for the Regional Transit Coordination Committee (RTCC). Two rounds of public workshops have been held, for a total of 10 workshops that involved nearly 250 Central Texans. Hundreds of comments have been obtained and reviewed.

    In addition, agency and provider surveys have been completed; a stakeholder involvement plan and technical documents prepared; and by-laws, goals, and objectives for the RTCC developed and adopted. The RTCC project is on target and on time!

    Snap-Shot of Currently Available Transit Service
    Central Texas is fortunate to have providers whose efforts to coordinate public transit and improve services have been ongoing.

    These providers include Capital Metro, Capital Area Rural Transit Services (CARTS), Hill Country Transit District (The HOP), Texas State University's TxTRAM and various additional transit services provided by Health and Human Service agencies, non-profits and faith-based organizations.

    Click here for an overview of the coordination efforts, future plans and services currently provided by these agencies.

    What is the RTCC?
    In a nutshell, the Regional Transit Coordination Committee Project is an effort to better coordinate public transit for a 10-county area in Central Texas as called for in recent legislation (House Bill 3588). All agencies receiving state or federal funds are required to participate.
    Read more...
    Thank You RTCC Volunteers!
    It takes a lot of effort and time to serve on a committee spearheading public transit coordination for Central Texans. So, for all the good work that you have done and continue to do, thank you!
    Final Workshops in September!
    Look for an electronic invitation to public workshops in early September to review the Capital Area Regional Transportation Coordination Draft Plan.
    RTCC Speakers' Bureau
    Ongoing public outreach includes an RTCC Speakers' Bureau. To register your group for a presentation on the transportation coordination effort, please call Group Solutions RJW at 512-448-4459.
    Feedback on Public Transit Coordination Barriers and Opportunities
    The feedback received from various sources, including RTCC public workshops, agency surveys, RTCC members and the Texas Transportation Institute, helped identify barriers and opportunities for better public transit coordination. The identified barriers and opportunities are listed below by category and followed by specific examples.
    Coordination Barriers
    CATEGORIESEXAMPLES
    Performance Barriers
    • Client eligibility
    • Driver requirements
    • Vehicle Specification
    Control (Turf) Barriers
    • Cross agency concern of performance
    Legal and Regulatory Barriers
    • Funding regulations set by resource agencies
    Technology Barriers
    • Incompatible systems (communications, dispatch, GPS, software, hardware)
    Financial/Accounting Differences
    • Different approaches to cost allocation
    • Incompatible accounting
    Insurance Differences
    • Cost and source of insurance
    Geographical Barriers
    • Multiple providers unable to serve all clients in same area (client eligibility)
    • Capable providers precluded from serving an area (regulatory issues)
    Coordination Opportunities
    CATEGORIESEXAMPLES
    Develop agreements among multiple providers
    • Share information, vehicles and driver resources
    Funding Agreements
    • State and agencies to coordinate requirements and restrictions that inhibit coordination
    Operating Practices
    • Develop a common driver training program
    • Share clients in the same area (broaden eligibility)
    • Consolidate and share information, scheduling and dispatching functions (Single Point Entry Consumer Access)
    • Consolidate fueling, service and maintenance
    Technology & Business Practices
    • Adopted compatible accounting system among agencies
    • Adopt common software and hardware used in dispatching and fare collection
    • Consolidate data collection and reporting functions
    Where Are We Now?
    Wilbur Smith Associates, the RTCC technical consultant, is currently working with the RTCC to develop the Capital Area Regional Transportation Coordination Plan that will be submitted to the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) in September 2006. The graph below shows the progression of the project.
    Submit A Comment!
    To submit a comment, or view others' comments, click here.

    For further information on the RTCC project go to www.CapitalAreaRTCC.org, or call (512) 448-4459.