ADA Guru
Contact: Jess Segovis
Biographical Info
Jess is a transportation professional who has spent the last two decades creating innovative programs and services for a variety of public and private agencies. Jess’ core professional values of safety, communication and innovation have helped ensure the successful delivery of high quality, accessible transportation services. The information below highlights Jess’ expertise across a number of public transit disciplines:
1. Triennial Review Support
a. Document Identification & Preparation
b. Drafting of Procedures for Subrecipient / Contractor Oversight Requirements
c. System Evaluation in Preparation for Review
2. ADA Compliance & Accessibility
a. Staff Training
i. Non-discrimination Requirements
ii. Assisting Riders with Disabilities
1. Ambulatory
2. Riders using Wheelchairs/Scooters/Walkers
3. Visually Impaired
4. Hearing Impaired
5. Non-Visible Disabilities
iii. Service Animals
iv. Direct Threat
v. Reasonable Modification
b. Enhancing/Creating Policies & Procedures (Operator Rulebooks, etc.)
c. Front-Line Staff Training Program Creation/Enhancement (Operators, Dispatchers, Road Supervisors, Customer Service Representatives, etc.)
i. New/Basic Training Programs
ii. Refresher Training Programs
iii. Accessibility Fair Training Program
d. Wheelchair Securement Training
i. Curriculum
ii. Hands-On Exercises
iii. Mobility Device Identification
iv. Securement Effectiveness Evaluation Forms
e. Operations Support Information
i. Operator Pocket Guides
ii. Procedure Decals
iii. Operations Notices
f. Secret Shopper Program Enhancement/Creation
i. Survey Content
ii. Sampling
iii. Reporting
iv. Operator Observations
g. Reducing Complaints by Riders with Disabilities
i. Complaints Procedure & Effectiveness Evaluation
ii. Enhancing Complaints Categories
iii. Improving Complaints Investigation Procedures
iv. Data Processing & Reporting
h. Facility Accessibility Support
i. Design Reviews
ii. ADA Standards Training
i. Subrecipient Oversight
i. Compliance Reviews & Training
ii. Program Evaluation & Improvements
3. Services for Riders with Disabilities
a. Marketing of New/Existing Services & Programs
i. Flyers & Brochures
ii. Presentations
b. Bus Orientation Programs
c. Advisory Committee Support
i. Staffing Existing Committees
ii. Creating New Committees
4. Regional Transportation Coordination Plans
a. Plan Creation
b. Public Outreach & Community Surveys
c. Identifying Unmet Needs & Solutions
d. Transportation Service Inventory
e. Grant Writing & Evaluation
f. Mobility Manager Training
5. Title VI Requirements
a. Policy Enhancement/Creation
b. Public Outreach
c. Implementation Assistance
WORK EXPERIENCE
Los Angeles METRO
Beginning in 2013, Jess worked for METRO, Los Angeles County’s Regional Transportation Planning Agency and operator of bus and rail services. As the Senior Manager of Accessibility, his primary responsibility was in ensuring that 2,200 buses and rail cars, 5,000+ Operators and 175+ bus and rail facilities were compliant with the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and State of California regulations. This has been achieved by:
- Working with METRO’s 15 Bus Divisions to develop innovative Operator training programs
- Enhancing Bus Operator Rulebook content
- Strengthening METRO’s relationship with the disability community; including innovative community education and outreach programs
- Reviewing service data to identify opportunities to enhance the quality of services provided
Navigator Mobility Consulting (now operating as ADA GURU)
Jess has also operated Navigator Mobility Consulting (NMC) since 2010. NMC specializes in ADA compliance and accessibility; as well as creating innovative programs designed to maximize limited resources available to communities throughout California and Arizona. In addition, NMC delivered a variety of public transit training programs on topics like ADA & Fixed Route, ADA & Paratransit, Wheelchair Securement Training for Operators, ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination, and Mobility Management. NMC’s clients include:
- METRO & Access Services (Los Angeles, California)
- Valley Metro & MARC Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
- OmniTrans (San Bernardino, California)
- Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (Yuma, Arizona)
- A number of state Transit Organizations; including AZTA (Arizona), CalACT (California), CASTA (Colorado) and SWTA (Southwest United States)
Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP)
From 2008 – 2010, Jess worked for Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB); an international construction and transportation planning consulting firm. As the Transportation Planning Manager responsible for PB’s statewide transit planning efforts, he worked on projects for the cities of Scottsdale and Chandler; as well as Arizona Department of Transportation.
City of Avondale, Arizona
As the Transit Manager for the City of Avondale, Arizona, from 2006 – 2008, Jess managed contracts for Bus and Dial-A-Ride operations, Bus Shelter installation and Maintenance, and the design and construction of a transit center. During this time, Jess gained a thorough understanding of how cities prioritize and budget for transit services; as well as select and manage contractors.
Access Services, Los Angeles
Jess worked for Access Services, the Los Angeles County operator of ADA Paratransit services, from 1998 to 2006. Jess created and operated a number of lasting programs; which included community outreach, member agency MOU’s, and Drug & Alcohol, DBE and ADA Compliance. During that time, Jess also developed lasting relationships with all 44 of Los Angeles County’s public transit operators.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
23+
ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE
- Contract management & negotiations
- Employee evaluation and training
- Evaluating costs, benefits and associated risks of existing and proposed plans, projects and programs
EDUCATION
- Masters of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM), Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California, 2000
- Bachelors of Arts in Speech Communication / Organizational Management, California State University, Fullerton, California, 1997