§ 73-E — Rural public transportation coordination assistance program

§ 73-e. Rural public transportation coordination assistance program.\n1. Program established. There is hereby established a rural public\ntransportation coordination assistance program which shall:\n a. enhance the access of people in rural counties to health care,\nshopping, education, employment, public services and recreation services\nand opportunities;\n b. assist in the establishment, maintenance, development, improvement\nand use of public transportation services in rural counties;\n c. encourage and facilitate the most efficient and economical use of\nall federal, state and local funds used to provide passenger\ntransportation in rural counties through the establishment of a\ncoordinated public transportation service in each county; and seek to\nincrease the productivity of existing programs used for transportation\nby increasing the hours of vehicle operation and by expanding services\nand service eligibility in such manner as to transport more persons,\nespecially those in need of transportation but who do not typically\nreceive transportation services;\n d. provide for the participation of public and private for profit and\nnot-for-profit transportation providers, school districts and volunteers\nin coordinated public transportation services in rural counties to the\nmaximum extent feasible.\n 2. Eligible expenses and services. The department shall, in\nconsultation with the interagency coordinating committee on rural public\ntransportation, define and determine the categories or types of expenses\nor services that will be eligible for financial assistance. Public\ntransportation services funded under this article should be designed to\nmaximize usage by the public, including transportation disadvantaged\npersons. Rail, air, water, freight, emergency medical, charter or tour\ntransportation services shall not be eligible for assistance provided by\nthis article. No payment of financial assistance under this section\nshall be made for any expenses incurred by a rural county or its\nsubcontractors prior to the date it receives written notice from the\ncommissioner that it shall be awarded a grant under this article.\n 3. Technical assistance and transportation management services. The\ndepartment may, at the request of a services coordinator, provide\ntechnical transportation assistance to said coordinator to help the\ncoordinator comply with program standards and guidelines issued by the\ncommissioner. Additionally, the department may arrange to sponsor\ntraining programs which will enable services coordinators to perform the\nduties required by this article. The department may furnish to and\nperiodically update for services coordinators information relating to\nexisting rural transportation services in the state. Such information\nmay include but not be limited to:\n a. a brief description of the nature and scope of existing rural\npublic transportation services, including a listing of transportation\nproviders and services coordinators;\n b. the identification of unique operating circumstances, and\ninnovative management or transportation services delivery techniques.\n 4. Transportation services coordination between counties and regions.\nThe department may identify and attempt to coordinate the use of\ntransportation services outside of individual rural counties and between\ncounties in order to enable persons to be transported outside a county\nand or outside a region and the department may identify and promote the\nintercounty use of transportation facilities.\n 5. Coordination of federal, state, local and private aid; report. The\ndepartment may compile and maintain current information on available and\npending federal, state, local and private aid affecting coordinated\npublic transportation services in rural counties. The department may\nrequest and shall be entitled to receive information from state or local\nagencies regarding the amount of federal, state and local aid received\nby public and private nonprofit organizations providing or contracting\nfor transportation services and the purpose for which the aid is\nreceived. The commissioner may, in consultation with the interagency\ncoordinating committee on rural public transportation, use the following\ncriteria to recommend policies to the governor and the legislature that\nwould or could promote compliance with the purposes of this subdivision:\n a. elimination of duplicative and inefficient administrative costs,\npolicies and management;\n b. greater utilization of resources for providing effective and\nefficient transportation services;\n c. elimination of duplicative and inefficient transportation services;\n d. development of transportation services which meet the needs of the\ngeneral public and insure services adequate to the needs of\ntransportation disadvantaged persons;\n e. protection of the rights of privately operated public\ntransportation providers;\n f. coordination of transportation services providers, in order that\nindividual providers, when participating within a coordinated public\ntransportation services program, together provide an integrated,\ncomprehensive service;\n g. management of equipment and facilities purchased with public funds\nin order that efficient and routine maintenance and replacement is\naccomplished.\n