NCMM is seeking to grow the number of communities taking steps toward implementing Mobility as a Service (MaaS).
To that end, NCMM is offering a free training opportunity to assist communities in moving to Level 1 MaaS (or to other levels/aspects of other levels, if level 1 has already been reached), by creating a project management plan to aid in implementation for that one-stop platform, incorporating options from all public and private operators. All interested communities are now invited to apply to participate in this training. (See further details below.)
Applicants are asked to submit an application by September 17, 2021 (11:59 pm ET) via this online form. Address questions to onecall@nc4mm.org (questions accepted until September 16). Answers will be posted on this page.
Up to four community teams, with 3-4 members each, will be accepted for the training.
Three important goals for a MaaS system are 1) to improve access to mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities, and other individuals who struggle to travel about, 2) to ensure, more broadly, that all customers know what options are available and can seamlessly access them to travel freely around the community, and 3) to encourage individuals to use transportation strategies that reduce harmful emissions and traffic congestion.
The implementation of a MaaS system rarely happens in a single leap; instead, it is almost always incremental. Indeed, MaaS is divided into 4 levels:
- Level 1: Integration of information, with multimodal trip planner, price info
- Level 2: Integration of booking & payment, in which a user can find, book and pay for a single trip on one platform
- Level 3: Integration of the service offer: bundling/subscription, contracts, etc.
- Level 4: Integration of policy: governance and public-private cooperation
The pre-training and training activities will occur October 2021 through February 2022. NCMM will conduct 3-5 virtual training sessions, each one lasting around 1.5 hours and including the following aspects:
- Strategic planning and setting the project vision (the “why” and “what” for Level 1 MaaS)
- Establishing clear action steps for the project (the “how” for Level 1 MaaS)
- Examples of peer projects of interest (applying lessons from other Level 1 MaaS efforts)
- Addressing how to design MaaS for maximum uptake by community members
- Worksheet assignments between sessions for teams to process information
- Group discussions
NCMM is requesting that 3- to 4-member teams apply for this opportunity, led by one team member. For logistical reasons, NCMM will limit active participation in this training to no more than 4 people per team. Each team will consist of 3- to 4-members working for public, nonprofit, not-for-profit, and for-profit entities – specifically city and county-based organizations, regional-level organizations, transit agencies, and local transportation providers. Team members can come from the same organization or from different organizations. The team is strongly encouraged to have a broader partnership network beyond the 3- to 4-member team.
Submitting Applications
NCMM will choose up to four communities based on their level of interest and ability to begin or expand their efforts for Level 1 MaaS. Applicants are asked to submit an application by September 17, 2021 (11:59 pm ET) via this online form. They will be asked for the following information (see this document for form details):
- Information about the lead organization, the community’s needs for Level 1 MaaS, and the team’s vision
- Existing resources and initial ideas for projects that would support the team’s Level 1 MaaS vision
- Description of early perceived barriers to Level 1 MaaS in the community that could be addressed during the training
- List of team members and a statement indicating all are committed to participating in the entire training and are willing to disseminate information on the training within their state/region/tribal nation
- Indication of interest in a cost-sharing arrangement with NCMM to support a pilot project, ideally involving local or state/region/tribal nation-level funding
- Understanding of the community’s needs for Level 1 MaaS
- Clarity of the team’s vision
- Awareness of existing resources, initial project ideas, and potential barriers for Level 1 MaaS in the community
- Understanding of key partnerships and collaboration
- Anticipated potential for increased state/region/tribal nation-level collaboration and integration
- Level of completeness of the responses to the online form
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Does the free Level 1 MaaS Virtual Training require interested parties to submit a letter of interest first or just complete the online form listed on the webpage?
A1: The application process for this training opportunity involves completing the online form available here only. Any and all supplemental documents that are requested as a part of the application process are mentioned directly within the online form.