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Public Transportation drafts plan to address
state's mobility needs

Customer service, mobility and local leadership are the focal points of a public transportation plan recently approved by the Idaho Transportation Board. Idaho's Mobility and Access Pathway (IMAP) outlines a vision for achieving efficient and effective mobility networks for Idahoans and describes the scope of the effort necessary to achieve it.

"Public Transportation is very relevant in Idaho," said Division of Public Transportation Administrator Randy Kyrias. "Our rural nature does not make mobility less necessary; it makes it more challenging. Idaho's unique characteristics make mobility essential."

IMAP is a reflection of the transportation department's emphasis on customer service, Kyrias explained. The Division of Public Transportation embraces the concept of serving the customer first - the customer being any individual with an existing and potential need for transportation and user mobility service.

More than 600 individuals and stakeholders from throughout the state participated in a series of workshops, stakeholder meetings and a statewide survey. IMAP is the result of the preferences and suggestions generated during that process.

Formal launch of the strategy is planned today through Thursday (April 29 - May 1) at "Mobility Idaho, 2008," a conference scheduled in Boise for public transportation providers and organizations responsible for ensuring that mobility services are available statewide.

The plan relies on local leadership to address local mobility and transportation needs.

"The approach is specifically designed to support local stakeholders in developing mobility networks that are responsive to identified needs and realities," Kyrias said. "IMAP accommodates Idaho's unique characteristics and complements that with a contemporary response to an individual's mobility needs and current technological opportunities."

"The plan also acknowledges and works to address funding realities," Kyrias added.

Local communities can take the initiative and work with their neighbors to connect and stimulate the network. As those smaller networks come together, a broader network - featuring existing and potential mobility services - is generated for consideration, evaluation and development as appropriate.

Local leaders can work together to address public transportation issues and to pursue needs and opportunities, calling upon the state to assist them where that assistance is appropriate.

"IMAP is a great example of how a state agency can respond to and support locally led efforts in a viable, focused, statewide fashion," said Idaho Transportation Department Director Pamela K. Lowe.

The result will be a Statewide Mobility Management Plan that identifies the priorities and resources required to address them, Kyrias said.

For a copy of IMAP, go to itd.idaho.gov and click on Public Transportation and choose IMAP Summary or IMAP Final Report from the menu on the left. Additional information also is available from the Division of Public Transportation, (208) 334-8875 or toll free at (800) 527-7985.