MISSOULA RAVALLI TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC
2820 SOUTH HIGGINS AVE, MISSOULA, MT 59801 www.mrtma.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION

The first Missoula Ravalli Transportation Management Association (MRTMA) vanpool began operating between Hamilton and Missoula on August 11, 1997. The initial ridership consisted of 4-6 daily commuters, and 2-3 occasional riders. During the course of the first week of operation, the number of individuals riding continued to increase. By the end of the second week of operation, there were 11 consistent commuters.As of June 30, 2020, there were eighteen vans in the vanpool program. In FY 2020, the vanpool program served commuters living in rural areas located outside the Missoula Urban area, as well as Missoula residents working in outlying counties. The vanpools now serve communities in 3 counties and 53 different work sites. The vanpool participants contribute to the program by covering the weekly gas costs and a portion of the insurance and maintenance costs. The value of this program is evident by the coordination and cooperation of the riders of the various vanpools.COVID-19, the resulting Governors stay at home order and CDC recommendation to not use public transportation greatly impacted the vanpool program from January to June. Van routes were reduced down to 7 during the period while ridership dropped approximately 66%. Carpool activities continue to supplement the vanpool program. The rideshare program, which matches commuters with similar home and work pickup and drop off points within a certain area is continually being offered to those commuters unable to utilized the vanpool service. This service continues to be instrumental in providing an additional option for those commuters that might have non-traditional work schedules or work in an area of Missoula that is not currently being served by the vanpool or local transit system. Commuters receive a list of potential partners and are encouraged to solicit those individuals on the list to form a carpool. We have partnered with Missoula In Motion for utilization of the Ride Amigo software program they have purchased. We anticipate the carpool matching program will become obsolete in the near future with the introduction of Uber and Lyft in the state. Combined statistics since the inception of the carpool and vanpool programs in 1996 through June 30, 2020 show a total of 705.500 vehicle trips saved; 31,305,660 miles NOT traveled and 1,272.63 tons of reduction in vehicle emissions. MRTMA continues to utilize with Yellow Cab Company, UBER, LYFT, BitterRoot Bus, Huckleberry Express Taxi, and CSKT Tribal Transit to provide a Guaranteed Ride Home service to all of MRTMAs registered carpoolers and vanpoolers. If an emergency arises and the individual needs a ride home and doesnt have transportation available, they simply call a cab. The cab driver will pick the person up at their employment site and drives them to the appropriate park-and-ride lot. Riders are reimbursed for the cost of the ride, as long as they are registered with MRTMA within the carpool and vanpool programs.Park and Ride sites have been established at various stops along the vanpool routes extending to the rural areas west and north of Missoula.Before originating a new vanpool, MRTMA staff travels the route to determine the best and safest places to implement these parking areas for commuters. Businesses and individuals are contacted about assisting in establishing these Park and Ride locations. All people contacted have been supportive of the vanpool service and most people have agreed to join in the effort by allowing the use of part of their parking areas. Letters are then sent to each individual to confirm and document the verbal agreement made by both parties in establishing these areas for this specific use.MRTMA currently has 28 established park-and-ride locations. MRTMA staff serves as the Chair of the Lake County Transportation Advisory Committee. In the fiscal year 2019-2020 staff has assisted the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Lake County Council on Aging and Mission Mountain Enterprises in securing 5310 Capital Assistance, 5311 Operating Assistance and TransADE funding from the Montana Department of Transportation. Staff has also assisted in securing Coordination Agreements in the development of Community Transportation Coordination Plans with many area providers. Staff continues to meet with Tribal members on an as needed basis to troubleshoot and facilitate expansion of the existing system. Staff continues to administer an Emergency Transportation Voucher program through the Lake County Transportation Advisory Committee. The program provides bus passes or gas vouchers for low-income individuals needing non-emergency medical transportation, job interviews or bus passes for crime victims. It also will provide a one-month bus pass to individuals upon hire. Since inception the program has provided 730 rides to individuals who have no other transportation options. MRTMA staff serves as the Vice Chair of the Ravalli County Transportation Advisory Committee. During FY 2020 staff provided technical assistance to the BitterRoot Bus and assisted in developing the Community Transportation Coordination Plan. MRTMA staff serves as the Chair of the Valley Veterans Service Center. Staff continues to assist the Valley Veterans Service Center in Hamilton with transportation and grant assistance. Many of the veterans continue to have trouble using DAV and VTS transportation services. MRTMA is providing two minivans and lift-equipped van for client trips to Missoula and Helena, as well as, rides to services DAV cannot provide due to VA policies. Statistics since inception of the transportation program in July 2016 show a total of 1,578 vehicle trips and 43,646 accumulated miles through June 30, 2020. During the period the Valley Veterans Service Center has been merged into Ravalli County and will function as a county department going forward. MRTMA staff serves on the newly created Advisory Board. MRTMA staff serves as the Chair of the Sanders County Transportation Advisory Committee. During FY 2020 staff provided technical assistance to the Sanders County Council on Aging transportation services.MRTMA staff serves as the Vice Chair of the Mineral County Pioneer Council Transportation Advisory Committee. During FY2020 staff provided technical assistance to the Council's volunteer Board. Staff assisted the Pioneer Council in a fundraising event to solicit funds for the local match necessary for new vehicles. The Pioneer Council was awarded one additional vehicle through the Montana Department of Transportations capital assistance program. MRTMA staff assisted the Seeley Lake Community Foundation in implementing a medical transportation program in 2017. The I Ride Seeley Lake program has increased the service to include trips beyond medical purposes. Since inceptions April 2107 through June 30, 2020 statistics show 811 rides given with an accumulated miles of 26,378.Other ActivitiesThe Executive Director serves on the National Highway Cooperative Searcher Program (NCHRP) Project 20-65. The panel is finishing work on Tasks 79, 81 and 82. Upon completion of these tasks the panel will be disbanded. The Executive Director serves as Chair on the NCHRP Project 02-26 Implementation of Programmatic Life Cycle Analysis in a Transportation Asset Management Framework panel.The Executive Director presented at the CTAA Virtual EXPO on Recruiting and "A Common Sense Approach: Updating Personnel Policies 7 Procedures to Address Pandemics. The Executive Director is serving as the State Delegate for the Community Transportation Association of America. The Executive Director served on the Transportation Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) FY2020 Screening Panel Group 1 and 2. The Executive Director serves on the TCRP Project B-47 Mobility Inclusion for Un(der)served Populations with the Emerging Technologies. panel.The Executive Director serves on the NCHRP B08-131 Access to Jobs, Economic Opportunities and Education in Rural Areas and B08-130 Best Practices in Coordination of Rural Transit and Ride Sharing.The Executive Director serves on the National Highway Cooperative Searcher Program (NCHRP) Project 20-65. The Executive Director was asked to be the Lead on the Transit Research Bureaus (TRB) Tribal Region War Games completion at the 2020 Annual TRB meeting in Washington D.C.MRTMA Staff are also tasked annually with organizing the Annual Spring Conference, organizing and supporting the annual Fall Business Meeting and State Bus Roadeo, providing assistance as requested with the State Bus Roadeo, including financial management,and providing technical assistance to MTA members as authorized by the MTA Board.

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