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Public Transportation Leader Calls For New Mobility Solutions For Older Americans
-- Scholars, Industry Leaders Meet to Evaluate Mobility Solutions for an Aging
America April 14, 2005 Contacts:
Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com
(Download
In Adobe PDF Format) WASHINGTON, DC (April 14, 2005)
- William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association
(APTA), today called for increased investment for public transportation and mobility
options to benefit older Americans. At a conference held at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), Millar communicated the urgent need for the country
to provide public transportation and to address changes in community planning
and design to help older Americans maintain their mobility and independence. The
conference, Transportation Solutions for an Aging Society, is one of a series
of meetings leading up to the White House Conference on Aging to be held in October
2005. It was co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and AARP,
along with MIT. "The growing need for transportation
options for older Americans is at a critical juncture," Millar said. "This
is no longer just a personal or family issue; it is now an increasingly urgent
national challenge. "The public transportation industry
applauds DOT, AAR, and MIT for hosting this important conference because how we
address the mobility options of older Americans as a nation will have significant
ramifications for all Americans," he said. Millar participated
on a distinguished panel of experts that discussed livable communities and personal
choice. He represented the public transportation industry and the efforts it is
making to increase transportation choices for Americans today and as they age.
"Transit systems across the country have recognized
the need to provide appropriate public transportation for all Americans, including
older adults who choose not to drive or who can no longer drive safely,"
Millar stated. "Simply put, public transportation is the lifeline for many
older Americans. The mobility needs of this population are increasing rapidly,
and the transit industry is responding. But we can, and must, do more. Investment
and planning are key." Noting that more than one in
five Americans age 65 and older do not drive, Millar said millions of citizens
are no longer able to participate in their communities, access regular health
services, or remain independent. "This is a quality of life issue with real
social and economic implications for every community," he said. Millar
provided highlights from a new policy paper released at the conference today by
APTA on ways transit agencies are working to enhance the mobility options and
positively affect lifestyles of America's older adults. The report calls for federal
policy and funding initiatives to make public transportation more available and
thus, communities more accessible for America's older citizens. Some of the report's
recommendations include: Increase federal investment in
public transportation to improve mobility for older adults; A
more fully integrated planning process including coordination with community-based
organizations, as well as with human services and government-sponsored transportation
programs; As part of the reauthorization of the Older American's
Act, funding should be allocated for research and demonstrate projects that can
create public transportation services and pedestrian-friendly environments for
older adults, particularly in suburban and rural areas that may not currently
offer convenient alternatives to driving; and Reauthorization
of the Older American's Act should create a new Incentive Grant Program to expand
senior transportation by funding community design initiatives that make shopping,
entertainment and essential services more easily accessible.
"Mobility
for older adults must be recognized as a priority public policy issue," Millar
said. "Increased investment, training and communication are vital to making
public transportation a viable option for our aging citizens and for all Americans." For
a copy of the report or to learn more about the public transportation industry's
services for older Americans, please visit www.apta.com. Also for more information
on the White House Conference on Aging go to www.whcoa.gov. *
* * APTA is a nonprofit international
association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation
systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service
providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation.
APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using
public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.
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