Founded in 2007, the Regional Elder Mobility Alliance (REMA) is coalition of aging, disability and transit agencies dedicated to advocating for regional approaches to personal transportation, para-transit, specialized transit and public transit to enhance quality of life in Southeast Michigan, particularly for the elder, disabled and transit dependent communities.
REMA envisions a society that recognizes the economic and civic value of transit and fully supports affordable, accessible service for all and a transportation network for southeast Michigan that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable; regionally seamless; and incorporates mass transportation, pedestrian facilities, para-transit options and cleaner/greener mobility options.
MISSION
Significantly enhance the quality of life for Southeastern Michigan elders, boomers (born 1946-1964), transit dependent adults, people with disabilities, and the general community through the maximization of regional mobility options and the delivery of multi-modal transportation services.
MEETINGS
REMA meetings are generally convened bi-monthly on the 3rd Thursday of odd months, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation office at 4750 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202. For more information about meetings, please contact Michael Boettcher at 313-963-8872 or [email protected].
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
REMA is focusing on advocacy and education to promote senior mobility in Southeast Michigan. We secured a grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) to initiate a Senior Mobility Outreach Project to gather data about senior mobility needs and engage seniors and community leaders on the benefits of enhancing safe senior mobility and to promote current and future transit options that can improve quality of life.
A second CFSEM grant is allowing REMA to build upon and expand its efforts to engage the community regarding senior mobility. With the help of public engagement consultants, REMA will 1) gather, review and analyze information and data on the transportation needs and options of local seniors, boomers and caregivers, 2) develop a public education/support campaign plan to educate and improve attitudes among this target population, public officials and the general public toward supporting regional transportation, and 3) implement the public education/support campaign as a pilot project.
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
BOOM! The New Economy Champion
Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT)
Disability Network of Oakland and Macomb
Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Michigan Office of Services to the Aging
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART)
Traffic Improvement Association of Michigan
Transportation Riders United (TRU)
Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO JOIN THE COALITION, CONTACT:
Michael Boettcher, AICP
Senior Mobility Project Manager
Regional Elder Mobility Alliance
c/o Transportation Riders United
500 Griswold, Suite 1650
Detroit, MI 48226
313-963-8872
[email protected]
www.DetroitTransit.org