Transportation is vital in order to live an independent and productive life. For many people with disabilities, using Metro Mobility contributes to achieving this.
In order to improve service and continue helping people achieve their goals, Metro Mobility hosted a Community Conversation on March 14 at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. The room swelled with close to 120 people. Among the audience members were:
Following a format similar to an October 2015 convening in Bloomington, participants sat at tables with a note-taker and facilitator.
Go-To Cards on Metro Mobility generate excitement, questions
One major topic of interest was Go-To Cards. Many people were excited that Metro Mobility has begun the transition from tickets to Go-To Cards and wanted more information about how to use them. Other recurring themes were the need for improved ride reliability and customer service. One person from each table reported the highlights of the conversation to the entire group afterwards.
The consensus was that while improvements are needed with Metro Mobility service, it is a lifeline for many riders.
“I love the independence part of it,” said one participant. “It gives me a sense of accomplishment.”
Small-group format allows all voices to be heard
People felt positive about the opportunity to provide feedback and give input. One participant, Katie McDermitt, was glad to have a chance to speak up and stated, “I thought it was a good way to get our voices heard.” Bob Platz, member of the TAAC and Fleet Manager at Lifeworks, also had positive reviews for the convening and felt that the message to want to hear from customers was very sincere.
Platz, along with the other members of TAAC who attended, will report back to the full committee at their next meeting on April 6 about how things went, what worked well and what was accomplished.
“We had a phenomenal turnout,” said Andrew Krueger, Senior Manager at Metro Mobility. He said the information gathered from the conversations will not only help steer Metro Mobility in the right direction for improving service, but will also cultivate a more positive relationship with customers that is mutually beneficial. Using the small table format is ideal for these events, Krueger said, because it allows everyone to talk, especially those who may not want to address a large room.
Another Metro Mobility convening is planned for June in Minneapolis. Details will be announced soon.