WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced nearly $50 million in new initiatives to expand access to transportation for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income.

At the Access and Mobility for All Summit, Secretary Chao announced her intent to fund new programs to develop and deploy innovations in technology and further interagency partnerships to improve mobility. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers also participated in the event. “The purpose of this $50 million new initiative is to identify ways to provide more efficient, affordable, and accessible transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults and other underserved communities that often face greater challenges in accessing essential services,” said Secretary Chao.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) assembled leaders from industry, academia, nonprofits, and government to participate in panel discussions and breakout sessions focused on interagency coordination, advanced vehicle technologies, and innovations in mobility services.

“We are focused on streamlining the multiple steps involved in traveling between locations into a smooth and seamless trip,” said Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams, who moderated a panel.

Also today, the USDOT and 10 other federal agencies approved the strategic plan for the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM), an interagency partnership to coordinate the efforts of federal agencies funding transportation services for targeted populations. The strategic plan includes goals to improve access to jobs, health care, education, and community services by eliminating government duplication of services, reducing regulatory burden, increasing access to cost-effective transportation services, and ensuring that transportation services are centered on the citizens who depend on them as a lifeline to community participation. The strategic plan will help provide better transportation outcomes through the coordination of more than 130 government-wide programs.