LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC), in cooperation with Caltrans, is sponsoring two transportation workshops in Lake County.

Organizations and residents are encouraged to attend to discuss strategies to improve transportation services throughout Lake County for low-income residents, seniors and people with disabilities.

The Lake County Human Service-Public Transportation Coordination Plan community workshops will be held on Tuesday, May 20. In Lakeport, the workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Umpqua Bank's second floor board room, 805 11^th St., Lakeport. The Lower Lake workshop will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Transit Lamkin-Sanchez Operations Center, 9240 Highway 53.

For information on transit service to the workshops, contact Lake Transit at (707) 994-3334

The workshops are being held to develop the Lake County Human Service-Public Transportation Coordination Plan. Sponsored by Caltrans, the plan’s goal is to improve mobility for county residents and visitors through better coordination of services among transportation providers and human service agencies in Lake County.

“Community input is very important for developing an effective plan. We want the plan to accurately reflect the needs and priorities of the community,” states Lisa Davey-Bates, executive director of the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.

The plan will identify transportation improvements to help residents travel to medical appointments, classes, day care, jobs and other destinations. The coordination plan also will identify transportation services needed to help people connect to other transportation services, like Greyhound or Amtrak.

During the workshops, which are scheduled to last approximately one and a half hours, participants will help prioritize transportation needs and strategies based on community priorities. Several exercises are planned so community members can explore different ways to improve local transportation services.

For agencies seeking federal transportation funds, information will be available on three grant programs: Job Access Reverse Commute, New Freedom, and the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (5310 Grant Funds).

The Human Service-Public Transportation Coordination Plan is a required document for local organizations and Lake Transit Authority to apply for certain types of federal funds. These dollars can be used to add new transit service, replace buses or purchase new equipment like bus shelters or dispatch software.

Caltrans commissioned the Human Service-Public Transportation Coordination Plan in coordination with the Lake County/City Area Planning Council to identify transportation needs and gaps, and define opportunities for better coordination and improved service. An Existing Conditions Report, prepared in March 2008, presents findings from interviews with transit customers, transportation providers, community representatives and local agencies. The report also includes an analysis of community demographics and transportation data, and a review of regional issues. The report will be available at the workshops.

For more information about the Lake County Human Service-Public Transportation Coordination Plan and the community workshops, please contact Lisa Davey-Bates with the Lake County/City Area Planning Council at 707-263-7799 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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