About

Across the country, transportation remains a top barrier to inclusion for seniors and individuals with disabilities.  Accessible transportation and mobility options are key components of community inclusion, so that seniors, individuals with disabilities, and others who use accessible transportation are able to access important destinations such as health care, employment, and education. 

To help address this critical need, the Tennessee Accessible Transportation and Mobility Act of 2020 created a new office within the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation.  The purpose of the Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation is to provide resources and expertise for expanding and improving accessible transportation and mobility across the state. 

The Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation is responsible for producing and sharing:

  • A mission statement 

  • A five-year strategic plan, and

  • An annual report about accessible transportation in Tennessee

OMAT published the Mobility and Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan in March 2022. The Plan included a number of key principles including:

  • Taking an integrated approach among State Departments that serve older adults, individuals with disabilities and the general public and, therefore, have shared priorities.

  • Aligning policies at the State, regional, and local levels to better support access to community resources.

  • Maximizing the existing transportation infrastructure and services to strengthen travel opportunities.

  • Delivering customer-focused transportation.

  • Managing the performance of funding programs.

The approach to the Strategic Plan and needs assessment encompassed opportunities for input from stakeholders representing organizations that serve older adults and individuals with disabilities, their consumers, and members of the public. The planning process also included discussions and surveys of transportation providers and local public entities. Demographic research and review of prior plans complemented the input received from stakeholders. This multi-faceted approach was selected because it provided the broadest opportunity for input and analysis while meeting project timelines. The implementation phase of the plan and refinements have continued as an ongoing effort and are documented in the annual reports each year.

The Strategic Plan is currently being updated and the new plan will be completed in 2025 with revised priorities and goals for improving access to transportation for older adults and individuals with disabilities. The project partners include State-level agencies, local public and human service agency transportation programs, non-profit organizations, advocates, and users of accessible transportation. This broad-reaching group of stakeholders helps to ensure that the Strategic Plan is comprehensive, implementable, and effective.