Fueled by Technology – Powered by People
Review of Project Approach
• Who We Are
• What We’re Doing
• How We’re Doing it
Who We Are: Team Hodgson
• Mark Risch, hodgsonConsulting
Project Manager
• Russ Holt, Access Information, Inc.• Greg Snider, CTC• Carol Walsh, hodgsonConsulting • Heather Wolsey, CTC
What We’re Doing: Project MissionProvide a comprehensive study encompassing
needs analysis, use case scenarios, the potential for organizational coordination/alliances, and technical requirements gathering that will result in a document that can be used as the basis for a solicitation to build a transportation clearinghouse website.
How We’re Doing It
• Needs Assessment
• Regional Analysis
• Functional Requirements
Needs Analysis
• Study existing clearinghouse models.• Gather and analyze input from MWCOG
transportation and technology staff and working group members.
• Identify user characteristics.• Determine administrative requirements of the
site.• Determine essential vs. nice to have content and
features for the site.
Regional Coordination
• Determine potential roles for other organizations in the region in promoting the clearinghouse’s viability.
• Identify benefits and challenges of joining existing data from current organizations.
• Assess the possibility of partnering with current organizations including building on existing websites.
• Recommend a partnership strategy.
• Create a site information architecture.• Create use case scenarios.• Identify system requirements including technical
platform, database, maintenance administration, and integration.
• Recommend a strategy for data maintenance.• Provide an estimated budget for annual data
maintenance and site operation.
Functional Requirements
Questions
Essential Items Discussion
• User Criteria: End Users– Low Income– People with Disabilities– Aging Population
• Administrative Criteria– Service Providers
User Characteristics
– General characteristics– Transportation needs and challenges– Access to technology– Specific site design and content criteria– Search options most useful to this population
Low Income: Characteristics
• Literacy at 6th grade reading level.
• Population often in areas not served well by fixed route systems.
• High incidence of non-native English speakers.
Low Income: Transportation Challenges• Often work non-traditional work schedules.
• Homes and work often located significant distances apart.
• Need for trip chaining.
Low Income: Access to Technology• Fairly good access and familiarity with
technology through libraries, service providers, etc.
• Internet access and computer quality on the lower end of the spectrum.
Low Income: Most Useful Search Criteria • Hours of Service• Trip Chaining• Cost
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Aging: Characteristics
• Largest growing segment of the US population.
• Trend toward aging in place means more seniors located in suburban areas.
• Outlive their ability to drive by an average of 10 years. Sixty percent rely on family or friends for transportation.
Aging: Transportation Challenges
• Often live in areas not served well by fixed route service.
• Often require assistance while traveling.
• More than 50% of non-drivers age 65 and older stay home on any given day because they lack transportation.
Aging: Access to Technology
• Fastest growing group of internet users. Becoming adept at researching on web.
• Little formal training on computers, not familiar with standard internet protocol.
• Wide range of internet access and computer quality across population segment.
Aging: Most Useful Search Criteria • Hours of Service• Accommodations/Accessibility• Reliability
• • • • •
People with Disabilities: Characteristics• Diverse population with wide range of
characteristics and needs.
• Organizations that serve people with disabilities including voc-rehab centers and independent living are often outside public transportation options.
People with Disabilities: Trans. Challenges• Nearly one-third report having inadequate
access to transportation, yet accessible transportation predictor of employment, and quality of life.
• Often require specific accessibility and accommodation options not universally available.
People with Disabilities: Tech. Access
• Wide range of internet access and computer quality across population segment.
• Wide variety of specific needs relating to usability criteria.
People with Disabilities: Search Criteria • Hours of service• Accessibility/available accommodations• Cost
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Thank You!