Section 2: Start-Up

Identify the Need and Challenges

First, start with identifying gaps in local transportation access and service. This may include determining which parts of town lack access or what days or hours are currently not served. Be sure to consider all transportation options in your community, such as fixed-route services, paratransit, non-emergency medical transportation, taxi cabs, agency shuttles, or church vans. It's a good idea to engage your consumers in this step to learn more about their specific transportation needs.

Next, identify the challenges to filling these gaps in transportation. Consider the barriers to transportation that people in your community experience and the challenges of providing transportation services in your community.  Depending on how formal a process you choose, you may want to consider conducting a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) with your Transportation Interest Network.

Set Goals

Setting "SMART" goals can help inform funding applications and the development of coordinated transportation plans.

• Specific: Be specific about what you want to achieve. Consider questions about your goals using the five W’s – Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

• Measurable: Choose goals that can be measured for success. Think about what metrics or data you will use to know when your goals have been achieved.

• Achievable: Goals should be realistic and attainable. If your goals require additional skills or resources, consider what it will take to obtain them.

• Relevant: Ensure your goals make sense within your broader CIL structure and mission. These goals should be worthwhile and align with your team’s priorities.

• Time-Bound: Set a target deadline for your goals. Think about what you can do today, next week, or in the months ahead to work toward your goals.

Depending on local circumstances, your goals may be narrow in focus, dealing only with the voucher program, or they may include a broader system of transportation services. If your community is very small, and no one else is addressing transportation, these goals may be short-term and focused only on immediate needs.

More information about setting SMART goals can be found in this guidebook developed by the University of California.

Develop Action Steps

Once you set your goals, you can begin thinking about strategies to work toward them. Begin to form actionable steps that you can implement. For example, you may want to arrange meetings with other human service agencies that also provide services to your consumers or meet with a church leader to see if they are willing to participate in the voucher program. Perhaps there are local events where you can conduct outreach and generate support for your program, such as a farmer’s market or bingo nights. It's also a good idea to think about what staffing, skills, and resources are needed at each step as you work toward your goals.

Locate Resources

What resources do you already have? What resources do you need? Where can you find those resources? These can include staffing to administer the program, funding to help pay for reimbursements, or technology to maintain records and manage bookkeeping. Go through each goal and think about the types of resources needed to achieve them. Be sure to include your Transportation Interests Network in this activity as well, as they may help locate resources that you may not be familiar with.

Monitor and Evaluate

Funders will typically require regular updates about your voucher program. Even if they don’t, it's a good idea to regularly monitor performance and adjust as needed based on feedback and changing circumstances. This information will also be helpful if you want to discuss your program with legislators or other policymakers to broaden support for transportation in your community.

A key part of this step is defining metrics to track your program’s success, often referred to as “Key Performance Indicators.” For a transportation voucher program, this should include things like the number of rides provided, total mileage, rider satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and impact on quality of life for your consumers. You may also want to consider other outcomes that are important to your CIL. This might include employment opportunities, healthcare access, and improvements in a consumer’s choice and control over their lives.