Formula Grant TN2024011

APPLICATION PURPOSE: THE KNOXVILLE REGIONAL HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLAN IDENTIFIED SEVERAL GAPS IN SERVICES IN THE KNOXVILLE URBAN AREA. MANY OF THESE GAPS DEALT WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE TIMES AND/OR LOCATIONS WITHIN THE URBAN AREA THAT THE FIXED-ROUTE MASS-TRANSIT SERVICE AND THE REQUIRED ADA COMPLIMENTARY PARATRANSIT DOES NOT SERVE. IN FACT GEOGRAPHICALLY THE MASS-TRANSIT SERVICE AND THE REQUIRED ADA COMPLIMENTARY PARATRANSIT SERVICE COVER APPROXIMATELY 25-30% OF THE URBAN AREA. THIS LEAVES APPROXIMATELY 70-75% OF THE URBAN AREA WITH LIMITED DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICES. THEREFORE THE HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLAN LIST AS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND GAPS IN SERVICES WITH THE USE OF THE 5310 - MOBILITY OF SR. INDV. W/ DISABILITIES FORMULA FUNDING. THIS INCLUDES HELPING TO PROVIDE EXPANDED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREA. ONE WAY THE PLAN RECOMMENDS ACCOMPLISHING THIS IS TO PROVIDE 5310 - MOBILITY OF SR. INDV. W/ DISABILITIES FORMULA CAPITAL FUNDING TO NON-PROFITS AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE VANS AND MINIVANS. ANOTHER STRATEGY IS THE USE OF MOBILITY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES TO EXPAND MORE TRANSIT OPTIONS AND TO BETTER COORDINATE THE EXISTING SERVICES. A FINAL STRATEGY IS TO USE THE 5310 - MOBILITY OF SR. INDV. W/ DISABILITIES FORMULA OPERATING FUNDING FOR VOLUNTEER ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND EXPANDED DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICES. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA. THE BENEFIT OF DOING THESE STRATEGIES ARE MORE SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS WHICH PROVIDES THEM THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL TO TAKE JOBS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS TO SUB-RECIPIENTS TO IMPLEMENT BOTH CAPITAL AND OPERATING PROJECTS TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO SENIORS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED IN THE KNOXVILLE URBAN AREA.; ACTIVITIES PERFORMED: THIS GRANT WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:(1) FIVE AWARDS TO FIVE DIFFERENT NON-PROFITS AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE SIXTEEN ACCESSIBLE MINIVANS STANDARD VANS AND SEDANS/SUVS FOR EXPANSION; (2) TWO AWARDS TO TWO DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE MOBILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES; (3) FOUR AWARDS TO AGENCIES FOR OPERATING FUNDS IN WHICH THREE AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE VOLUNTEER ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND ONE AGENCY WILL PROVIDE DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES; AND (4) ADMINISTRATION FUNDING TO THE TPO TO HELP MANAGE THE OVERALL REGIONAL 5310 - MOBILITY OF SR. INDV. W/ DISABILITIES FORMULA PROGRAM. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLAN IDENTIFIED SEVERAL GAPS IN SERVICES IN THE KNOXVILLE URBAN AREA. MANY OF THESE GAPS DEALT WITH THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE WAY THE PLAN RECOMMENDS ACCOMPLISHING ELIMINATING GAPS IS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL FUNDING TO NON-PROFITS AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE VANS AND MINIVANS. THIS GRANT AWARDS FUNDING TO FIVE NON-PROFITS/HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO PURCHASE SIXTEEN VEHICLES: TEN ACCESSIBLE MINIVANS THREE STANDARD VANS AND THREE STANDARD SUVS/SEDANS. THE FEDERAL LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR ALL OF THESE VEHICLES IS FOUR YEARS. FOR THIS GRANT THE SIXTEEN VEHICLES SHOULD PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 225000 ONE-WAY TRIPS OVER THEIR FEDERAL LIFE EXPECTANCY (FOUR YEARS) TO SENIORS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED IN THE KNOXVILLE URBAN AREA. MOST OF THE TIME THESE VEHICLES STAY IN SERVICE WELL BEYOND THEIR FOUR YEAR FEDERAL LIFE EXPECTANCY.THE HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION PLAN IDENTIFIES AS A CRITICAL NEED THE FUNDING OF OPERATING SERVICES FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES NON-PROFITS HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO FILL IN THE GAPS OF NEEDED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. MOST OFTEN THIS REQUIRES PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH VOLUNTEER DRIVER TYPE PROGRAMS (MOBILITY MANAGEMENT) AND PROVIDING STRATEGICALLY LOCATED DEMAND RESPONSE TRANSIT SERVICES (OUTSIDE REGULAR FIXED-ROUTE MASS-TRANSIT SERVICE AREA AND BEYOND ADA COMPLIMENTARY PARATRANSIT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS). THE OPERATING PROJECTS PROVIDE AN INVALUABLE SERVICE TO SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE TPOS URBAN AREA. THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO NEED THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE OFTEN THE FRAILEST IN THE COMMUNITY. THE DRIVER ACCOMPANIES THE RIDER THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TRIP AND CAN HELP THEM WITH CERTAIN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CARRYING GROCERIES OR HELPING THEM TO THEIR DOCTORS OFFICE (NOT JUST DROPPING OFF AT CURB). IT IS PROJECTED THE OPERATING SERVICES FUNDED THROUGH THIS GRANT WILL PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 45000 TRIPS. THE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BETWEEN 12-24 MONTHS DEPENDING ON EACH AGENCYS APPLICATION FOR FUNDING. ; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS GRANT ARE SENIORS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED IN THE KNOXVILLE URBAN AREA. THIS GRANT PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO SENIORS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ANY OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. OFTEN THE SENIORS TRANSPORTED ARE THE FRAILEST IN THE COMMUNITY AND REQUIRE AN EXTRA LEVEL OF CARE. THE PERSONS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES MOST OFTEN ARE INTELLECTUALLY DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. THESE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES HELP PROVIDE THEM ACCESS TO THERAPY DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS WORK AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. WITHOUT THESE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES MOST WOULD BE HOMEBOUND. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #1 SERTOMA CENTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO SIX VEHICLES: FOUR ACCESSIBLE MINIVANS AND TWO STANDARD SUVS/SEDANS FOR FLEET EXPANSION. SERTOMA CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY THAT SERVES ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #2 EMORY VALLEY CENTER FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO SIX VEHICLES: FOUR ACCESSIBLE MINIVANS AND TWO STANDARD VANS FOR FLEET EXPANSION. THE EMORY VALLEY CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY SUPPORTING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #3 - ARC KNOX COUNTY - SUNSHINE INDUSTRIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE STANDARD VAN FOR FLEET EXPANSION. SUNSHINE INDUSTRIES IS A NON-PROFIT THAT PROVIDES TRAINING FOR INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYED INDIVIDUALS. CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #4 CATHOLIC CHARITIES (HORIZON HOUSE) FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE ACCESSIBLE MINIVAN FOR FLEET EXPANSION. HORIZON HOUSE IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY THAT SERVES ADULTS WITH CHRONIC AND SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #5 COMMUNITY OPTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE ACCESSIBLE MINIVAN AND ONE STANDARD SUV/SEDAN FOR FLEET EXPANSION. COMMUNITY OPTIONS IS A NON-PROFIT AGENCY THAT SERVES INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #6 KNOXVILLE KNOX COUNTY CAC VOLUNTEER ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION (VAT) PROGRAM MOBILITY MANAGEMENT. CAC WILL PROVIDE CONTINUING TRANSPORTATION COUNSELING COORDINATION AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES FOR SENIORS OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.CAPITAL SUB-RECIPIENT #7 SEVIER COUNTY LIVE-IT MOBILITY MANAGEMENT. LIVE-IT WILL PROVIDE MOBILITY MANAGEMENT TO ENHANCE TRANSPORTATION ACCESS FOR SENIORS AND PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED.OPERATING ASSISTANCE SUB-RECIPIENT #1 KNOXVILLE KNOX COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. THE CAC WILL CONTINUE ITS VAT SERVICE THAT RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION TO SENIORS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED THAT REQUIRE AN ESCORT TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ESSENTIAL ERRANDS AND NON-ESSENTIAL TRIPS FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA.OPERATING ASSISTANCE SUB-RECIPIENT #2 BLOUNT COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY SMILES PROGRAM. SMILES WILL CONTINUE ITS SERVICE THAT RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION TO SENIORS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED AND OVER AGE 60 THAT REQUIRE AN ESCORT TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ESSENTIAL ERRANDS AND NON-ESSENTIAL TRIPS FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA. OPERATING ASSISTANCE SUB-RECIPIENT #3 SEVIER COUNTY LIVE-IT. THE SEVIER COUNTY LIVE-IT PROGRAM RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE ASSISTED TRANSPORTATION TO SENIORS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED AND WHO ARE OVER AGE 60 THAT REQUIRE AN ESCORT TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ESSENTIAL ERRANDS AND NON-ESSENTIAL TRIPS FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA.OPERATING ASSISTANCE SUB-RECIPIENT #4 EAST TENNESSEE HUMAN RESOURCE AGENCY. ETHRA WILL PROVIDE DEMAND RESPONSE SERVICES FOR THE SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISABLED THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREA WHILE CONCENTRATING SERVICE OUTSIDE OF KNOX COUNTY (OUTSIDE FIXED ROUTE AND ADA COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE AREA). ALL OF THE OPERATING PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN THAT THEY EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADA.