Fact sheet: DHR's transportation system, No. 67 (Sept. 2001)

September 2001

DHR Office of Communications

Georgia Department of Human Resources

DHR'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Lack of transportation is a barrier for many Georgians. More people with disabilities are finding jobs, but their disabilities may keep them from driving a car. Older Georgians need rides to senior centers and doctors' appointments. Welfare recipients need rides to work, job training and child care providers. In some rural areas, the nearest jobs may be in another county, with no transit systems to bring in prospective employees.
The Georgia Department of Human Resources provides transportation for these clients, but at the same time it must streamline services and reduce duplication. In the past, some vans that were used to transport clients sat unoccupied for much of the day, and other vehicles transported only a few clients at a time. Some programs had no transportation services for clients in certain areas.
The system DHR is reorganizing its transportation system by unifying transportation services that currently serve different groups of clients. Under the new system, one provider will deliver all transportation services in a specific area. A central coordinator in each of DHR's 12 regions will oversee the operation of vans and buses for all clients and will develop alternatives to DHR transportation, such as contracting with private providers, securing grants for transportation services and using existing transit systems. Transportation services are awarded to the organization that meets the requirements outlined in the request for proposal.
DHR began pilot projects in 15 counties in 1997, and will provide at least some coverage in all counties during FY 2002. The system will provide about 2.7 million trips this year at a cost of about $22 million. Once statewide, the system is expected to cost about $35 million and will fund nearly 5 million trips per yearabout 20,000 trips per day. Existing DHR funds are being redirected to pay for the system, as well as additional local and federal money.
Local input Although the system will be administered at the state level, local

agencies will help design a transportation plan to meet the needs of clients in their area. A regional transportation coordinating committee, composed of local DHR staff and representatives from other agencies, will help identify transportation needs in each region and will advise the regional coordinator. DHR will continue to work with other agencies and organizations to develop alternate means of transportation.
Looking ahead Transportation services under the DHR transportation plan will actually grow, since sharing the vehicle pool will serve more clients with fewer vans. Extra van space created by the consolidation will mean that more clients can be served, and some older vehicles may be surplused. DHR will be able to expand services to the elderly, TANF clients, and people with disabilities, and should be able to provide transportation services in areas that previously had none. Over the next 10 years, the department will be able to phase out much of its fleet of vehicles by using outside agencies and federal grants to provide transportation for clients.
DHR Office of Communications September 2001