Minnesota's Road to Volunteer Drivers Virtual Forum Series, 2022-2023

Minnesota's Road to Volunteer Drivers Virtual Forum Series with State of Minnesota wordmark over an aerial view of a road and autumn leaves on trees

About the Series

This virtual forum series is convened and sponsored by the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access in partnership with the Minnesota Volunteer Driver Coalition and will bring together volunteer driver program administrators, volunteer drivers, riders, funders, transportation policy advocates, and transportation stakeholders. The series will provide participants with the opportunity to share information to help maintain and strengthen these programs. All events will have live captioning and ASL interpretation, and will be recorded and available for later viewing.

July 27, 2023

Noon – 1:00 p.m. Central Time

Transit-focused Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) pilot projects

Presenter: Elliott McFadden, Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program Coordinator,
Minnesota Department of Transportation

Registration

The virtual forums are free to attend, but registration is required and will be available soon.

If you're unable to join the live broadcast, a recording with captioning and ASL interpretation will be available here following the event.

Accommodation

MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. All events will include live captioning and ASL interpretation.

If you need a foreign language interpreter, documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print, or a different language), or another reasonable accommodation for this web page, registration, or any forum series event, please contact Rachel Brodeur at least two weeks beforehand by email at brode080@umn.edu or by phone at 612-625-5608.

More Information

Please contact Rachel Brodeur at 612-625-5608 or brode080@umn.edu with any questions.

Past Forums:

May 25, 2023

Scheduling software: Finding the right fit

Panel discussion on scheduling software for volunteer driver programs, featuring:

  • Alan Herrmann, TCAP Mobility Manager and Supervisor, SmartLink Mobility Management
  • Helen Pieper, Transit Director, Timber Trails Transit
  • Shelly Pflaum, Mobility Manager for Southwest RTCC and United Community Action Partnership

March 21, 2023

Sharing and coordination capabilities: Get your ducks in a row
Presenter: Kevin Chambers, Principal of Full Path Transit Technology

Program description

Kevin presented on RideSheet, an open-source Google Sheets-based web application that enables small demand-responsive transportation providers to manage internal operations better and can support the exchange of operational data with peer organizations for coordination. Its creation was motivated by the observation that many small agencies don’t have the technology for tracking data that is appropriate for their situation. Many agencies are still “on paper,” or are paying significant amounts for over-engineered software. This type of software is designed for larger, more complicated organizations. RideSheet helps providers track customers and trips, create driver manifests, automate reports, and manage multiple funding sources. It aims to be as lightweight and straightforward as possible while meeting the core elements agencies need to streamline their operations and grow more effectively.

    February 16, 2023

    Program

    • Marketing to expand volunteer driver pool
      Terry Smith, Regional Transportation Resource Coordinator and Mobility Manager, Mid-Minnesota Development Commission and Mid-Minnesota RTCC
    • Attracting volunteers at Age Well Arrowhead
      Lindsey Hilgers, Client Consultant, Age Well Arrowhead
    • Employer support for volunteer driver programs
      Gavin Bukovich, ElderCare Development Specialist, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
    • Hybrid volunteer models
      Lynnell Simonson Popowski, Regional Transportation Coordinator and Mobility Manager, Northwest Regional Development Commission and Northwest Regional Transportation Coordination Council
    • Lyft programs in Dakota County
      Robyn Bernardy, Transportation Coordinator and TCAP Mobility Manager, Dakota County

    October 6, 2022

    Program

    • Introduction and background on current volunteer driver efforts
      Tom Gottfried, MnDOT and MCOTA Executive Director, Tiffany Collins, Transit Director, Central Community Transit System and Willmar Volunteer Driver Program; and Beverly Sidlo-Tolliver, Senior Planner-RTCC Coordinator, Arrowhead RTCC and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
    • Guidance on recent state legislative changes and proposed federal legislation
      Sherry Munyon, Government Relations/President, Capitol Access
    • Hop Scott in Scott County
      Alan Herrmann, TCAP Mobility Manager and Supervisor, SmartLink Mobility Management

    Professional Development Hours

    To the best of our knowledge, this event meets the continuing education requirements for 2.0 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) credit. If you participate in the virtual forum and would like to request a PDH form, please email brode080@umn.edu after the event. We will email the form to you following the event.

    Sponsors

    Sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA) in partnership with the Minnesota Volunteer Driver Coalition.