2017 -- H 5294

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LC001085

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY

TO CONDUCT AN ELDER MOBILITY TRANSPORTATION STUDY AS PART OF

UPDATING THE STATE’S COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES TRANSIT PLAN

     Introduced By: Representatives Ruggiero, Abney, Bennett, McNamara, and Carson

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island population of people aged 65 and over is projected to

increase dramatically over the next few decades, going from 152,000 in 2010, to 247,000 in 2030,

with almost one out of every four Rhode Islanders being aged 65 and over; and

     WHEREAS, The Aging in Community Subcommittee of the Long Term Care

Coordinating Council, in response to the Aging in Community Act of 2014, has identified

services important to helping older Rhode Islanders to remain living in the community; and

     WHEREAS, The Subcommittee has found, through focus groups conducted across the

state with Rhode Island seniors, that transportation is one of the most important areas of concern.

The unmet needs of older Rhode Islanders must be addressed; and

     WHEREAS, Research findings suggest that after age 70, older women may spend 10

years dependent on others for transportation, with older men spending seven years in such need;

and

     WHEREAS, Family and friends of older Rhode Islanders are not always available to

provide transportation to those who are no longer able to drive or who lack vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, Many Rhode Island seniors live in areas not conducive to walking or

convenient to public bus routes or, due to physical limitations, cannot access and use regular bus

service; and

     WHEREAS, Transportation availability impacts most aspects of successful aging in the

community, including healthcare access; community and social engagement; food security; and

use of open spaces, parks and public venues; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island needs to develop and fund an affordable and accessible public

transportation system to assist older Rhode Islanders with their transportation needs; and

     WHEREAS, The State-Coordinated Human Service Transportation Plan is outdated and

the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority is initiating development of a revised

coordinated human services transit plan; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that in developing the revised coordinated

planning for the human service transportation study, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority

conducts a comprehensive Elder Mobility Study to examine the mobility needs of the state’s

elderly population, recognizing the significant projected increase in persons age sixty-five and

over, identify gaps in current state transit programs for seniors, best practices for more responsive

senior transit programs, and available transportation options to include ride share programs,

volunteer programs, and the estimated needed resources to help meet the projected demand; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Director and Board members of the Rhode

Island Public Transportation Authority.

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LC001085

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