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on paratransit Transitional program alleviates paratransit demand, provides cost savings l aunched in November 2011, Calif.-based Riverside Transit Agency's (RTA) travel training program is efectively steering a growing number of customers away from its costly Dial-A-Ride service as well as saving the agency money along the way. "Te program has exceeded our expectations," explained Bradley Weaver, marketing manager for RTA. "With more people moving away from Dial-A-Ride and using fixedroute buses, this unique program is promoting a variety of travel choices, nurturing community partnerships, embracing sustainable communities, and helping minimize pollution and waste." As part of the program to get disabled customers on the bus, RTA develops individualized travel plans for each participant, with a variety of lessons, including how to read bus schedules, pay fares and connect with other routes. Travel trainers also teach seniors the same lessons, but often in group settings, such as at adult day health care centers and senior living communities. Personal travel trainers customize the learning experience to meet each person's individual needs. Te step-bystep process emphasizes safety, while building confdence and travel skills. Travel training involves a series of steps from initial one-on-one instructor assistance to gradual empowerment of the individual to, ultimately, independent travel. The total time spent on training is based on the individual's needs. Instructors spend as much time as necessary to ensure each person is comfortable with traveling on their own. Photo courtesy Riverside Transit Agency BY ALEX ROMAN, Managing Editor The Riverside Transit Agency's travel training instructors work individually and in groups until the clients are comfortable using its regular fixed-route services. TIPS FOR DEVELOPING A TRAVEL TRAINING PROGRAM Travel training is intensive, one-to-one instruction designed to teach people with disabilities and older adults how to travel safely and independently using public transportation. Four levels of travel instruction that transit agencies could consider providing, include transit orientation, transit familiarization, travel training for an experienced traveler or new traveler. Transit agencies may choose to hire a travel trainer themselves or to contract one through a travel training services company or a human services agency. Easter Seals Project ACTION and a national workgroup of travel instruction professionals developed a comprehensive set of competencies for the practice of travel training. Based on those competencies, the following questions are points that transit agencies or contractors may want to consider when hiring a travel trainer: 64 < mETRO mAGAZINE JUNE 2013 • Does the candidate have a sensitivity to the needs of customers to be taught and an ability to be supportive of those needs? • Has the job candidate completed any structured course or training offered by a recognized vendor? • Has the candidate had experience in all phases of travel instruction? • Is the candidate experienced with the transit system that she will be instructing customers to use? • Does the candidate belong to any professional associations, such as ATI, through which he can participate in ongoing professional development activities? For additional resources, visit www.projectaction.org . – Whitney E. Gray, Easter Seals Project ACTION metro-magazine.com