The Wisconsin Way
Inventing Coordination Through
Creativity, Flexibility, and Risk-Taking
Bobbie Beson-Crone
Human Services Transportation Coordination Program Manager
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Rural vs. Urban Counties
52 rural (nonmetro) counties
20 urban
(metro) counties
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Wisconsin
Public Transit

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18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
Transit in 54 of 72
counties, 5
reservations
Over 75% served
by transit,
including
paratransit
A significant
amount of
service, too many
gaps
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Wisconsin RPC’s & MPO’s
9 RPC’s
13 MPO’s
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2006 Coordination
Planning Process
RPC planners conducted county
meetings
 Used UWR:Framework for Action
 WisDOT provided:

•
•
•
Orientation & training for planners
A toolkit for planners
Admin fiscal support for meetings
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2006 Process:
Lessons Learned
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Non-traditional
stakeholders
Inventory of
resources/
providers
New county
relationships
Education &
awareness of
available funding



>50% “did
nothing” beyond
’06 meeting
No ownership by
County
Reverted to old
“TCC”
membership
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2006 County Plans
11 Priorities
1. Transportation
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Coordination Committee
Membership
Transportation and/or
Mobility Manager
Increase volunteers
Communication
Education & Marketing
Inter-County and
Regional Coordination
Expanded Service
7. Technology: Centralized
Dispatch, Scheduling &
Financial Tracking
8. Assessment: Inventory of
Capital, Vehicles,
Providers & Service
9. Grants & Funding Sources
10. Customer Service:
Opinion & Satisfaction
Surveys
11. Increase Rural
Transportation Service &
Strategies
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Wisconsin Model of
Coordination
ICTC hired National Consultant
 4 objectives:

•
•
•
•
Assess state agencies
Assess 8 counties 2 mini-regions
Compare WI to 8 similar states
Develop model with
implementation strategies
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2008 Coordination
Planning Process


Developed by RPC planner/WisDOT
work group
Focus on:
•

“Buy-in”/plan ownership
•
Multi-county & regional planning
•
Strategies in Plans
•
Flexibility in coordination plan
development
New toolkit, meeting planner/owner
focus
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2008 Planning Process:
WisDOT & RPC Role

WisDOT:
•
Facilitated
RPC/WisDOT
workgroup
•
Developed Toolkit for
Meeting Coordinators
& plan owners
•
Orientation on Toolkit
and 2008 process
•
Doubled admin. fiscal
support

RPC’s:
• Consultant’s to
process
• Communicated new
process to “local”
entities
• Provided
demographic info.
and mapping
• Facilitated multicounty/regional
meetings
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2008 Planning Process:
Plan Requirements
Required Plan Components:

Assessment of existing service

Assessment of transit needs

Assessment of transit gaps

Strategies in Plan to remedy
needs & gaps
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2005-2008
Grant Applications
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2005-2008
Multi-County/Regional Planning
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Mobility Management
Training Program

Focus of New Freedom funds

Co-funded with DVR


Federal transportation grants currently
fund 26 mobility managers
Formal 9 mo. training program:
•
Communication for shared learning
•
Forum for Wisconsin based best practices
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What’s next?
ICTC’s Report to the Governor

Executive Order for formalized basis for
ICTC:
•
•
•
•

Dedicate staff position & admin support
Dept. secretaries are responsible for
coordination in/between agencies
Formalize SAC
Charge ICTC with making policy
recommendations to implement WI Model of
Coordination
Develop pilot projects to test regional
coordinated Medicaid and HST networks
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WisDOT Web Links:
Transportation Coordination:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/index.htm
2008 Coordination Toolkit:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/transit/toolkit.htm
Wisconsin Transportation Coordination Model:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/model.htm
Further info. contact:
Bobbie Beson-Crone,
608-266-6812;
bobbie.beson-crone@dot.state.wi.us
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