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Meeting the Transportation Needs of Northern Virginia's Seniors

A Transportation Guide for Northern Virginia - Travel Training Brochure (1.7MB)

• Phase I

  • Press Release - 3/7/06

  • Study Summary - 4/18/06

  • Final Report - 3/24/06 (8.5MB)

  • Appendices - 3/24/06 (19.7 MB)

  • Staff Presentation to NVTC Board - 12/1/05 (2MB)
• Phase II

  • Scope of Work

  • RFP: NVTC seeks travel trainers to teach seniors how to use fixed route public transportation.

  • Addendum 1: Clarification to RFP

  • Addendum 2: Pre-proposal Conference Notes

  • Addendum 3: NVTC's Answers to Written Questions

  • Boilerplate RFP with NVTC's Standard Terms and Conditions

     In the fall of 2004, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) kicked off a study to understand the transportation needs of seniors in Northern Virginia and develop recommended strategies to enhance their mobility options. Over the next 25 years, the United States will witness phenomenal demographic change. The number of older residents is expected to more than double. A similar pattern of demographic change is expected in Northern Virginia. By 2030 the ratio of seniors age 65 and older is expected to increase from one in 13 residents to one in seven—an increase of more than 240,000 seniors in Northern Virginia. By understanding this profound demographic shift, the travel patterns of seniors, and their reported needs, NVTC hopes to guide the region’s planners and decision makers toward meeting the transportation needs of seniors in the current and coming decades.

     The study included an analysis of changing demographic trends, an inventory of existing transportation services available to seniors in Northern Virginia, a telephone survey with more than 1,600 seniors age 75 and older, four focus groups with seniors 75 and older, one focus group with professionals and volunteers who serve seniors and have a understanding of their transportation challenges, and 20 one-on-one telephone interviews with seniors.

 The study team hopes to answer the following key research questions:

     Northern Virginia is more than 1,300 square miles with a diverse senior population situated among several types of communities. The study team recognizes that important differences exist among seniors and among the communities where they reside. Recommendations address differences in the health and wellness of different groups of seniors, as well as the type of community in which they reside. 

     The recommendations focus efforts in three areas:

1. Encourage and support increased use of fixed route transit by seniors seniors

    This study was made possible through a $114,000 state grant from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) purchased additional survey sample so that the research could be expanded to Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. NVTC provided in-kind labor contributions of its staff to manage the project, perform the demographic analysis, and produce the GIS maps and other graphics. The research was guided by a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary advisory team composed of transportation planners and human service agency staff.