Conducting Needs Based Planning and Service Evaluation

This chapter discusses the importance of determining need when planning and implementing special transportation services for elderly and disabled persons. It discusses service evaluation and its relationship. An approach which combined the survey technique and the establishment of a local citizens group met with success in developing a program to improve the mobility of transportation disadvantage in a target area. By focusing on the problems surrounding travel requirements, rather than questioning hypothetical travel behavior, the survey can yield substantial findings to assist in designing transit programs suited to identified needs. Although there will continue to be debate on the most appropriate methods of determining needs this should not diminish the importance of conducting needs assessment. Eligibility criteria often restricts the use of certain funds to specific segments of the population or places limits on the types of trips allowed.