Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Evaluation: Performance measures and benchmarks have been a constant struggle with these projects. Because the projects are accomplished through the volunteer efforts of busy professionals, timely performance has been impossible to command. Monthly meetings have been the mainstay of the project. Through these meetings, tasks have been detailed and assigned. Progress (or lack of) has been noted. Because the GIS world is so broad and there are so many layers of data available, the monthly meetings have been particularly helpful in keeping everyone focused on the basic project goals.
Accomplishments:
1. Both projects are highly innovative
2. Pedestrian map of downtown Spokane sent to the CVB for assistance in planning for National Veterans Wheelchair games
3. Mapping data provided to senior community health students at Gonzaga University to map the Gonzaga campus for retired Jesuits
4. Data used by the Hillyard Neighborhood to prioritize sidewalk repairs, resulting in a full funding grant
5. Airway Heights planners used the data to plan for sidewalk improvements
6. Spokane Regional Health District used the data to plan for walkable communities in NE Spokane
7. The pedestrian mapping data will included in the Spokane Smart Routes initiative document that is seeking bicycle and pedestrian project funding in the 2010 transportation reauthorization
8. Provided data to Whitworth University to use during a service-learning project working with West Central on sidewalk mapping
9. Provided data to EWU students helping with the Southgate Neighborhood planning and students used the Garland District data for a class project
10. The project was highlighted in a Lands Council’s Built Environment Workshop. This was part of an EPA grant to enhance the health aspects of the built environment where pedestrian and transit issues are of significant interest and importance.
11. Reported to STA on approximately 93 advertising “bus” bench locations
12. This project has been presented twice at the ESRI International GIS Conference, and part of a conference session at a third, conference was devoted to discussion of pedestrian barriers useful for the project. These presentations have resulted in requests for information from states of New York and Louisiana, City of Boston, City of Bellevue, Washington, and Seattle Metro.
13. Over sixty area agencies have been identified for presentations of the LIFTS website. Presentations have begun.
14. Eight graduate and upper division students have been employed under this project, gaining invaluable real-GIS-world experience. One master’s thesis is based on the project.
Lessons learned: We would advise anyone who wanted to duplicate this process to pay professionals to focus on the work to get it done in a timely fashion. We wish we would have had these end products to show people throughout the projects long gestation. It was very difficult to describe and generate excitement for these projects – until people can actually see them in action.