ElderNET Calgary Planning Table

The Transportation Planning Table is a multisectoral committee that was established in 2005 to act as a 'planning body'.   Its role is to identify opportunities in the community and to connect resources in order to improve transportation services for seniors in Calgary.  Research is an important component of the role of this planning table to identify best practices in other jurisdictions and barriers and issues experience by seniors who are trying to access transportation services.  The group has representatives from a number of community sectors  in Calgary who work collaboratively to explore and develop creative and innovative solutions to transportation challenges for Calgary seniors.

Transportation Planning Table Committee

Name	Organization / Sector
Tracey Braun	Senior Centre Representative Bow Cliffe Seniors
Cynthia Malliah	Senior Volunteer Bowmount Seniors Assistance Association
Luc Marmelic	ElderNET Calgary Director
Dianne McDermid - Chairperson	Senior Volunteer
Deanne McNeil	Agency Representative Calgary Regional Transportation Services Society
Bill Newnham	Senior Volunteer Ogden House Seniors 55+ Activity Centre
June Read	Agency Representative Southland Transportation
Ron Scheurkogel	Agency Representative Southland Transportation
Jill Sharpe	Agency Representative Alberta Health Services
Anna Sommer-Stevens	Agency Representative Calgary Seniors Resource Society
John Sullivan	Senior Representative The Golden Age Club - Inner City East Village

What has been achieved by the Transportation Planning Table?

• May 2005: A transportation brainstorming session was held with 47 stakeholders. Click on Transportation Brainstorming Report to read the entire report on that event
• June 2005: The Transportation Planning Table was established to address the issues raised in the brainstorming session.
• August 2005: The Planning Table began work with a Sociology Research Class from the University of Calgary
• October 2005: the group met with Calgary Alternative Transportation to explore some alternative modes of transportation
• December 2005: the group met with a representative of the Calgary Motor Dealers Association to explore possible partnerships and ways of working together.
• December 2005: Sociology students from the University of Calgary completed interviews with 158 seniors to identify barriers they encounter when accessing transportation. One key learning was that many seniors are not familiar with alternatives to transportation other than Calgary Transit and Access Calgary.
• December 2005: University of Calgary Sociology students completed an environmental scan of transportation services for seniors in Calgary. Using this data, the Information Centre, City of Calgary, has developed a mini-directory of “Calgary Transportation Services for Seniors” at www.informalberta.ca
• December 2005: The Transportation Planning Table facilitated a partnership between the Calgary Motor Dealers Association (CMDA) and the Calgary Seniors Resource Society (CSRS) to provide transportation in courtesy shuttles for seniors attending a CSRS program.
• January and February 2006: Three focus groups have been conducted with seniors to learn more about the barriers they face when accessing transportation.
• February 2006: an extensive literature and internet review has been undertaken to learn what other provinces and countries are doing to provide transportation services for seniors.
• June 2007: A Transportation Round Table is held in Calgary to report on the work of the Transportation Planning Table and share information about transportation options for seniors in Calgary.
• July 2007: CMDA and CSRS courtesy shuttle program launched
• February 2008: A working group was convened to explore the possibility of developing a Bus Buddy program in Calgary
• August 2008: Four organizations are identified as appropriate and willing hosts for the Bus Buddy pilot, and join the working group planning meetings
• May 2009: ElderNET hosts a Roundtable on Seniors' Transportation at Mount Royal University
• September 2009: Calgary Family Services becomes the lead agency for the continued work by the project group regarding the "Get Up and Go" project.
• September 2010: The "Get Up and Go" program is launched at the Kerby Fall Fair
• November/December 2010:  The "bus buddies" training sessions are initiated and the "lunch & learn" presentations are occurring in the community
• January 2011: The Transportation Planning Table is establishing a new work plan for the next two years 

What are the future directions for the Transportation Planning Table

• Explore creative partnerships with service providers and the business community.
• Connect stakeholders in order to provide opportunities to develop alternative transportation solutions for seniors in Calgary.