TRPC launches survey for 2026 Human Services Transportation Plan update

The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) has launched a survey, as part of its 2026 update to the Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP).

The federal and state required plan guides how transportation services connect residents with special mobility needs to essential social services across the county.

Updated every four years, the HSTP focuses on the mobility needs of people 65 and older, people with disabilities and low-income residents. It also considers youths, veterans and people experiencing homelessness.

During a meeting on Friday, Feb. 6, TRPC Transportation Manager Katrina Van Every said the plan is about more than meeting requirements.

“It is about connecting people with special mobility needs to the social services available to them,” she said. “It’s about how people are able to participate in their community, access services and maintain a healthy quality of life.”

TRPC is inviting community members to share their experiences with transportation options through the survey.

The agency is also working directly with transportation and social service providers, including Rural Transit, Dial-A-Lift, and local housing and veteran service programs, to identify service gaps and priorities.

The plan serves as a blueprint for assessing existing transportation services, identifying gaps and prioritizing solutions. It includes community outreach, demographic analysis and strategies to address unmet needs.

Regional priorities established through the HSTP determine eligibility for funding under the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Grant Program, which supports rural and specialized transportation services across the region.

The survey runs from February through March.