Public transportation agencies across the country are exploring ways to respectfully support persons who are experiencing homelessness and minimize impacts to transit employees and the traveling public. Transit agencies have developed important partnerships with law enforcement, social service agencies, mental health experts, advocates for persons who are homeless, and others to approach this issue in a more positive way. TRB hosted a webinar on Monday, March 25, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that presented transit agency experiences and lessons learned explored in the TCRP Research Report 242: Homelessness: A Guide for Public Transportation. Presenters also shared the activities of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) nationally recognized SCOPE program and the National Transit & Vulnerable Populations workgroup.

This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program and the Standing Technical Committees on Transit Safety and Security, Community Resources and Impacts, and Resource Conservation and Recovery.

The slides are linked in the meeting materials. View the recorded webinar below.

Webinar agenda and presenters

1. Overview of the report – John MacArthur, Portland State University

2. SEPTA’s SCOPE program – Kenneth Divers, SEPTA

3. Activities of the National Transit & Vulnerable Populations workgroup – Holly Winge, CapMetro

4. Question and answer session moderated by Flora Castillo, Pivot Strategies, LLC

The first 60 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 30 minutes will be reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the complex nature of homelessness as it relates to public transportation

2. Use current practices and approaches within the transit industry in interactions with people experiencing homelessness

3. Build partnerships and collaborate on solutions to address homelessness, locally and nationally, while providing a safe, reliable, and customer-friendly experience for all riders

American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance Credits

This webinar was approved by the American Planning Association (APA) for 1.5 Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits. CM credits provide continuing education opportunities for AICP Certified Planners to continue their professional skills and knowledge. To receive CM credits, Certified Planners should visit the TRB event webpage on American Planning Association and register their participation. If you have problems reporting your CM credits or have general questions about the CM program, please contact the APA.