THE MASSACHUSETTS Department of Transportation was recently awarded $360,000 for a two-year mobility management pilot program. While this sum might seem modest compared to other funding awards, its potential impact could be transformative—or it could flop. I’m rooting for the former.

When it comes to the current state of affairs, MassDOT’s Mobility Management and Transportation Coordination website admits, “services are fragmented” and “it can be hard to navigate all the transportation services in a community.” The pilot program aims to “expand mobility by helping connect potential riders to a wide range of services and bring organizations together where there are gaps in the transportation network.”

This sounds promising, but you can’t connect people to services that don’t exist or don’t operate when needed. Filling gaps in our shared transportation network requires a holistic approach and substantial funding.

Consider a real-life example: A man from Waltham seeking public transit options for a job in Lexington called me. His commute via transit would take almost two hours on weekdays, longer on Saturdays, and be nearly impossible on Sundays. A mobility manager could explain this, but that wouldn’t change his terrible options.

There used to be a transit line connecting Lexington and Waltham, but it ceased decades ago. Ironically, when towns like Lexington had less population, there were more public transit options than today, but decades of budget cuts and underinvestment changed that. Other transportation services in these communities are limited to certain people or purposes: Council on Aging transportation for those over 60, ADA paratransit for those with disabilities, shuttles for specific residential complexes or employers, university transportation, school buses, and medical appointment rides.

Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are available but not affordable for daily commutes. Biking is an option but not for all, and despite progress, more improvements are needed in the bike and pedestrian network. 

The mobility management pilot aims to bring together organizations operating these fragmented services to coordinate better. However, the core issue is funding. Services are structured as they are because of their funding sources. Another promising initiative, the governor’s Transportation Funding Task Force, is looking like yet another missed opportunity. If 31 professionals reporting to the governor can’t find funding solutions, how can mobility managers, who will be mid-level employees without much authority, solve this problem?

Better public transit reduces reliance on specialized services. Many older adults use ADA paratransit not because they can’t take public transit, but because it’s too far to walk. ADA paratransit is more expensive per ride than fixed-route transit. Increasing ADA paratransit use means needing more drivers and vehicles, which strains the system and leads to long wait times for those who truly need it. Some towns now pay for additional school bus services due to lost public transit. While school buses get students to school, they don’t serve school staff or operate on non-school days, limiting mobility compared to public transit, which serves people of all ages and abilities for various purposes.

What we need is a comprehensive transportation service plan—one that considers current and future developments, outlines ideal frequencies, and new transit hubs for better cross-town connections. We also need to untangle the complex web of demand-responsive services for areas and people where transit isn’t an option. A previous attempt to coordinate these services during Gov. Patrick’s administration faded with the next administration. We should examine the cost of all transportation services filling public transit gaps and find better ways to use those resources to enhance access and efficiency.

Building a better, more coordinated transportation system will take time. Mobility managers can help, but they can’t solve the crisis alone. We need a comprehensive service plan and realistic funding solutions to truly enhance mobility.

Susan Barrett is a transportation manager for the town in Lexington. The views expressed here are her own.