BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced it has received a $360,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Innovative Coordinated Access & Mobility (ICAM) Program to undertake a two-year statewide mobility management pilot.? The pilot program will expand mobility by helping connect potential riders to a wide range of services and bring organizations together where there are gaps in the transportation network.  

 

"Our administration is committed to increasing transportation options across the state. This grant from the

FTA will help us make critical improvements to make our transportation system more accessible for everyone," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and FTA for this award and committed to continuing to compete for federal dollars to improve quality of life in Massachusetts."  

 

The $360,000 pilot program will fund a statewide mobility management pilot, including hiring a statewide mobility manager and related contractual and administrative support. The project will cover the entire state, including Justice40 communities. 

 

In 2023, MassDOT conducted an extensive study to explore whether a statewide system of Regional Mobility Managers would benefit older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income people by improving the awareness, availability, accessibility, and efficiency of transportation services for these populations.

 

MassDOT published the study on January 31, 2024.?? While the study looked at how mobility management systems function in other states, the primary focus was a deep dive into exploring the perspectives of on-the-ground practitioners helping people with mobility challenges and low income-navigate the existing transportation systems.? The study found support for a statewide mobility management program–and lays out a series of action steps for MassDOT to pilot this program in a way that complements the work being done by the practitioners on the ground.   

 

Building on the recommendations of the MassDOT Regional Mobility Manager Study, this ICAM grant award will require MassDOT to work closely with a steering committee. This committee already includes partner state agencies that manage statewide programs and initiatives related to aging and disability and assisted MassDOT with the recently completed regional mobility study.