roybal transportation forum

July 20, 1999

 

 

07/20/99

 


CONTACT:
Margie Yu
Public Affairs Asst.
(323) 343-3047

 


Calendar
of Events

National Agenda for the
Transportation Needs
of an Aging Society
Will be the Focus of
U.S. Department of Transportation
Forum at Cal State L.A.

Los Angeles, California-July 20, 1999-The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Roybal Institute for Applied Gerontology will host a regional forum on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles entitled "Older Adults and Transportation: The New Millennium." Major issues to be discussed include older driver concerns and testing, pedestrian safety, highway design, and alternative transportation needs.

Where:
Roybal Institute for Applied Gerontology at Cal State L.A. (Salazar Hall C120)
The University is located at the Eastern Ave. exit, San Bernardino Fwy. (I-10), at the interchange of the 10 and 710 fwys.

When:
Thursday, July 22, 1999
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (A reception will immediately follow)

As an indication of the high priority he places on this issue, Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater asked that the Department undertake initiatives to assure the safe transportation of older adults. One of those initiatives is a series of forums to bring current state-of-the-art gerontology programs to public interest groups, transportation professionals, and medical and social service providers who deal with older persons on a daily basis. Participants will discuss ideas and innovations in such areas as the roles those different authorities and agencies play in aiding older persons to be safe drivers or-when appropriate-in transitioning the older adult to non-driving status. The results of this and other forums will be used by the DOT to establish a blueprint for managing the safe transportation of older adults in the first decades of the next century.

The forum luncheon speaker will be State Senator Hilda L. Solis, who will address the needs of older persons and the importance of considering the diversity of Southern California in planning transportation systems. Federal, state and local transportation departments as well as the Departments of Motor Vehicles, Health Services, and Aging will be represented at the forum. In addition, representatives from the community and agencies providing transportation and other services to older adults will be in attendance.

"This forum will provide an opportunity to examine and discuss various proposals such as the retesting of older drivers and making our streets safer for drivers and pedestrians," said Jorge Lambrinos, director of the Roybal Institute.

The forum is being sponsored with the support of the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), the Southern California Automobile Club (AAA), AARP, Blue Shield of California and State Farm Insurance Companies.

For more information, call the Roybal Institute for Applied Gerontology at Cal State L.A., (323) 343-4724.

 

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