Advisory committee partnership advances non-driver transportation services

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) hosted its transportation partners Tuesday for the fall Wisconsin Non-Driver Advisory Committee (WiNDAC) meeting. The biannual meeting is an opportunity for WisDOT to collaborate with stakeholders and discuss transportation needs for the state’s non-driver population.

“Mobility and equity in transportation are critical priorities at WisDOT. We must ensure every transportation project and program takes into account what’s best for all our users, no matter how they travel,” said Lea Collins-Worachek, administrator of WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives. “WiNDAC is a chance for us to learn from our partners about the safety and access needs of non-drivers as we plan for the future of our transportation system.”

WiNDAC works to identify barriers for non-drivers and develops recommendations to improve mobility in all modes of transportation. Members include advocacy groups, stakeholder transportation associations, mobility service providers, academia, state and local government, legislators and the Federal Highway Administration.

The fall meeting focused on encouraging members to envision a holistic approach to transportation to better accommodate for the needs of non-drivers.

“WisDOT’s commitment to inclusion of diverse representation in WiNDAC ensures that we find meaningful, robust and sustainable solutions to enhance equity and access for all non-drivers,” said Denise Jess, WiNDAC co-chair and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.

Non-drivers make up nearly a third of Wisconsin’s population, including aging adults, students, children, low-income individuals, people with disabilities and those who prefer not to drive. Many face barriers to get to work, school, appointments and other daily needs. WiNDAC allows stakeholders to share their experiences to inform decision-making and transportation planning.

“WisDOT is showing the rest of the nation how to strategically think about improving mobility for the large and growing population of non-drivers whose access to the workforce, healthcare, schools and businesses may be limited. Centering transportation planning around solving challenges non-drivers face every day is critical to keep Wisconsin communities growing and thriving,” said Tami Jackson, WiNDAC co-chair and public policy analyst for the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Since WiNDAC first began meeting in 2020, WisDOT has implemented a variety of new strategies to improve services for non-drivers, including launching a GIS map to provide statistics for municipal transportation planners, conducting research into how non-drivers use various modes of transportation and promoting a non-driver centric approach to government work.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.