Regional Service Planning (RSP)

Produced by the Texas Department of Transportation's Public Transportation Division

(PDF version )

Partners Newsletter Premiers

Welcome to the first issue of Partners—a monthly online newsletter for lead agencies in the regional transportation coordination effort. The Public Transportation Division will use this newsletter to share relevant and timely information on issues and opportunities concerning coordination. PTN welcomes your feedback and suggestions. Contact Ginnie Mayle at gmayle@dot.state.tx.us with ideas for future articles.

2007 Legislative Update

The status of state funding for public transportation as a result of legislative action in the recent legislative session was addressed at the November 15, 2007 Texas Transportation Commission meeting . The commission awarded an additional $9 million to rural and small urban transit agencies for fiscal year 2008. In addition to the state funding issue, another newsworthy event happened as a result of legislation. As part of Senate Bill 10, the medical transportation program (MTP) will transfer to the Health and Human Service Commission no later than August 31, 2008. For a brief history of the program, see a recent presentation (PPT, PDF ) given at the AASHTO Standing Committee on Public Transportation conference in Austin in November 2007.

Regional Forums with Health & Human Service Agencies

PTN will soon announce details for a series of regional forums focusing on coordination between transportation and health and human services providers. The purpose of these forums is to explore ways to provide more efficient and effective transportation services for people with health and human service needs. PTN will soon contact each lead agency to discuss regional issues, dates, venues, and forum participants. In the meantime, contact Steve Wright at swright@dot.state.tx.us for more information.

Event Planned for Summer 2008

PTN will host a unique information-sharing event on regional coordination this summer. This two-day event—We Need Each Other—will include multiple training and workshop opportunities as well as other presentation and discussion sessions. In the near future, PTN will send an e-mail to lead agencies announcing information on dates, location, a tentative agenda, and registration information. Information also will be posted on the regional coordination website at www.regionalserviceplanning.org. Contact Steve Wright at (512) 416-2811 or swright@dot.state.tx.us for additional information.

JARC and New Freedom RFPs

JARC and New Freedom proposals are due February 1, 2008. Contact Kris Dudley at kdudley@dot.state.tx.us with questions on the application process or proposal requirements or for additional information, go to PTN's website. Also, please visit www.regionalserviceplanning.org for a current list of JARC project summaries .

Coordinator Focuses on Regional Transportation

Numerous planning regions in Texas have expressed interest in designating a mobility manager or transportation coordinator in their respective regions. The Coastal Bend Council of Governments (COG), lead agency for the Coastal Bend planning region, recently worked with area partners to make that happen. Read more about the Corpus Christi area's new transportation coordinator, Brigida Gonzalez . (Reprinted with permission from Corpus Christi MPO, Oct-Dec 2007 newsletter.) Contact Richard Bullock, Coastal Bend COG, at (361) 883-5743 or richard@cbcog98.org for more information.