Federal Policies to Increase the Mobility of the Elderly and the Handicapped

Abstract

Abstract This article analyzes federal transportation programs and policies aimed at improving the mobility of the elderly and the handicapped. Major transportation programs are found both in the social and human service network and in the transportation planning community. The article considers the actual funding approaches and policy requirements of both sets of programs and identifies the conflicts between program areas and internal to the transportation service community. The article concludes that although much responsibility may be returned to the states, the federal government will still have a strong role to play. The U.S. Department of Transportation's conflicting policy stances have sent very mixed messages to the social service network about the amount of responsibility transit systems must accept for the transportation needs of clients, especially specific groups like the non-handicapped elderly or the mentally retarded. Therefore DOT must clarify its program and policy directives in order to end the confusion and to allow cooperative and coordinated efforts involving the funds and resources of both program arenas. The social and human service network must act in a positive manner at both the national and state levels to ensure that local agencies receiving transportation funds become involved in cooperative endeavors with other agencies and with transit systems at the local level.