COTPA (Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority) requests your participation at a meeting listed below to help formulate the Coordinated Plan for federal funding. This includes three programs: 5310 (Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities), 5316 (Job Access and Reverse Commute, or JARC), and 5317 (New Freedom). The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires that projects selected for funding be derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan ("coordinated plan") beginning in FY 2006 for JARC and in FY 2007 for the 5310 and New Freedom programs. Your input and suggestions are important in order to identify the transportation gaps in your area. In accordance with the federal law, COTPA will create the coordinated plan that takes into consideration the needs of elderly and low-income persons as well as persons with disabilities.

MEETINGS AND OTHER INPUT

Wednesday, November 15, 2:00 p.m.
The new History Center (NE 23rd and Laird by the Capitol) in Oklahoma City

Monday, November 20, 10:30 a.m.
ACOG, 21 E. Main Street, Bricktown District of Oklahoma City

You can also e-mail or mail comments by November 27 to diponker.mukherjee at okc.gov, or mail to him at the Union Station, 300 SW 7th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73109.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Virtually anyone within the OCARTS area (all of Oklahoma and Cleveland County as well as part of Canadian, Grady, Logan, and McClain County), as COTPA is seeking partners to help identify transportation gaps as well as to formulate projects in order to close those gaps. Human service agencies, public health advocates, public and private transportation providers, state and local elected officials, economic development and job training agencies, commuters, people with disabilities, business owners, social service agency staffs, advocates for older adults, and others may want to participate. People outside the OCARTS area are also welcome.

WHAT WILL THE COORDINATED PLAN INCLUDE?

1. An assessment of available services;
2. An assessment of needs;
3. Strategies/projects to address gaps for target populations.

TIMELINE
October—November 2006: Gathering of information and assessment of transportation needs
December 2006: Preparation of the draft plan
January 2007: Review of the draft plan and submittal of final plan to ACOG with the TIP