In response to Federal and statewide legislation, Nelson\Nygaard has developed dozens of community-based transportation plans (CBTPs) that specifically address the mobility gaps faced by individuals in low-income communities, those with disabilities, and older adults.  Our CBTPs range from those developed at a neighborhood level, such as the Roseland community in Santa Rosa, CA, to those in rural counties throughout the western states.  Since traditional fixed-route transit often does not respond to the specific needs of these communities, our plans present creative solutions that have been successfully implemented in peer communities. In addition to the low-income communities addressed in the CBTPs, we have also developed plans that address the needs of specific low-income populations such as Medicaid-participants in Los Angeles, residents of Native American reservations, and homeless populations in densely urbanized areas. CBTPs must also address the mobility needs of people with disabilities, in addition to older adults and those who are low-income.  While there is often overlap in the solutions identified for all three groups, our long-standing experience in the field of accessible transportation, which precedes the passage of the ADA, allows us to recommend a broad range of strategies that specifically address the mobility needs of the disability community.
Nelson\Nygaard’s transportation plans serve the needs of older adults who may not be ADA paratransit-eligible, yet still face mobility challenges.  Our seminal research in the field complements the firm’s extensive local project experience providing aging communities flexible, inclusive alternatives to traditional paratransit, from hybrid transit models to older driver safety education.