Public Transit and Specialized Transportation Planning

Public transit is a shared passenger transport service that provides a valuable service to the general public. ECWRPC works with the transit agencies within the region to provide cost-effective transit services to meet the needs of the users and to comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Planning activities include Transit Development Plans, Transit Rider Surveys, County Human Services-Public Transportation Coordinated Planning and overall planning support.

If you’re looking for specific transit information, please see the corresponding pages for the area you’re interested in:

Valley Transit
Oshkosh Transit
Fond du Lac Transit
Menominee Transit

Specialized Transportation

Specialized transportation is a form of “demand-response service” that responds to riders’ individual requests (or demands) for service (van, small bus, or taxi). For example, a trip in a Cabulance vehicle would fall into this category, as would a trip via Dial-A-Ride. There are specialized transportation services available at the county level throughout the region.

Transportation systems within Wisconsin and throughout the country are fragmented and inefficient. The reason stems from the funding sources and their stipulations and restrictions. If we are not able to change the funding stipulations and restrictions, what can we do to improve the transportation system for the customers? We need to work with the existing transportation systems; we need to maximize our resources and strive for efficiency and effectiveness. We need to figure how to make the process seamless and coordinated from door to door. We need to focus on the customer’s needs.

In December of 2014, East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC) and Waupaca County received a Section 5304 Planning grant through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to study the transportation needs and barriers within Waupaca, Waushara, Shawano, Green Lake, Marquette, Adams and Juneau Counties through a transportation needs assessment. The focus of the study is on transportation needs, but also takes a look at mobility management “best practices”, which is determined by interviewing standout transportation systems throughout the state.

Winnebago County has a well-established specialized transportation network in place that currently meets many of the county residents’ specialized transportation needs. This network is comprised of a large, diverse group of caring people including agencies, county/municipal governments, businesses, transportation providers, caretakers, medical organizations and volunteers. The county also has a robust fixed bus route system that is available for specialized transportation individuals when convenient. The existing specialized transportation framework includes options throughout the county for the elderly, disabled and low income individuals. Winnebago County recognizes that even though they are meeting the needs of many, there are still gaps, needs and barriers within the system that are preventing individuals from adequate transportation. This study was completed to evaluate the existing specialized transportation system and identify the gaps, barriers and needs and to develop recommendations to remedy them. For more information about the study, please contact Brenna Root Whitby.

Specialized Transportation Coordinated Plans

East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECWRPC), which serves as staff and fiscal agent for its seven member counties, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, and Winnebago, is designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to lead the development of the Specialized Transportation Coordinated Plan. A Specialized Transportation Coordinated Plan is a five year plan dedicated to assisting the elderly and people with disabilities to receive specialized transportation based on their individual mobility needs.

Federal transit law, as amended by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), requires that projects selected for funding under the Section 5310, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program, be “derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan” and that the plan be “developed through a process that includes representatives of public, private, and non-profit transportation and human services providers and participation by members of the public.” Wisconsin State Statue 85.21 (Specialized Transportation Assistance Program) candidate projects also require coordinated planning to receive funding.

2024 Plans

2018 Plans

2014 Plans

2008 Plans