Human Services Transportation Planning
In 2006, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) directed WCOG and the state’s other Regional Transportation Planning Organizations to convene stakeholder groups composed of local human services agencies, schools, transportation providers and others to develop consolidated human services transportation plans to address the mobility needs of people who do not drive due to age, income or disability reasons, are being met.
The human services transportation (HST) planning process has since been periodically reviewed and refined by WCOG’s Citizens’ Transportation Advisory Group and Transportation Technical Advisory Group. The HST planning process engages stakeholders to identify gaps in service and updates a ranked list of project proposals within Whatcom County. Project proposals included on the list are thus eligible for consideration for state and federal public transportation grant funding through WSDOT’s Consolidated Grant Program.
The current Whatcom Human Services Transportation Plan was adopted in October, 2018.
The following four project proposals proposed to WSDOT for funding in the 2019-2021 biennium and included in the updated 2018 plan are:
- Lummi Nation Transit Operation: Sustains route-deviated service for the general public and special needs populations on the Lummi Tribal Reservation. (Selected for funding)
- Whatcom Council of Governments Mobility Management: Provides travel training, bus pass distribution and educational activities for seniors and youth. (Selected for funding)
- Whatcom Transportation Authority Mobility Training (Selected for funding)
- Whatcom Transportation Authority: Improving Rural Public Transit in Whatcom County (Not selected for funding)
For more information on WCOG’s Human Services Transportation Plan, please contact WCOG Director of Planning, Hugh Conroy at hugh@wcog.org or (360) 685-8384.