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PAGE 66 Participants contextualized their direct experiences with public transit within the broader economic forces in the region, often drawing a direct link between transportation challenges and factors such as workforce shortages. One parent said: “I know that we have a bus driver shortage, and that limits transportation for those who need it. I know that my son, when he first started high school, he tried to use the bus but it was unreliable. The time that they dropped him off at the high school means that if the bus is just a tiny bit late, you’ll end up getting to class late. [And] they kept changing the schedule because of the bus driver shortage.” particularly in Pleasanton and Livermore, as described above. Additionally, transportation was also a concern for individuals with disabilities. Participants noted a relative dearth of transportation services for those with disabilities, and the cost, though low, is often prohibitive for those who need frequent transportation for medical appointments or other services. Consequently, and in light of the anticipated increase in the population of older adults, there is not only an immediate need for paratransit services but also an expected increase in demand, as reported in the Tri-Valley Paratransit Study.17 Youth Youth are a distinct focus of this needs assessment due to their identification as a priority population by numerous stakeholders, and because of the critical role of identifying and meeting the distinct needs of children and adolescents in the life-course perspective. While many of the issues in this section echo the aforementioned challenges, their distinct effect on youth warrants a more detailed exploration. CHILDCARE High quality, affordable, and accessible childcare and early childhood education (i.e., preschool) represent a significant need for Tri-Valley families. Hively was cited as a source of support for childcare funding and provider matching, however participants reflected that the region is facing a shortage of childcare providers. One participant from a nonprofit focus group noted that the region has seen a decline of approximately 30% of childcare providers. Another interviewee highlighted how informal childcare networks (i.e., family members) have been disrupted due to many relocating away from the region. Families INFANTS/TODDLERS ELIGABLE BUT NOT RECEIVING SUBSIEIZED CARE PRESCHOOLERS ELIGIBLE BUT NOT RECEIVING SUBSIDIZED CARE NUMBER RECEIVING SUBSIDY CHILD CARE FUNDING SUBSIDY GAP Dublin 514 357 101 770 Livermore 822 599 277 1144 Pleasanton 772 611 50 1333 Total 2,108 1,567 428 3,247 Youth focus group participants connected transportation challenges to their ability to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. They also lamented the relative absence of bus stops in residential areas, and the ways that contributed to loneliness, with implications for mental health. Parents and other community members said that the absence of school buses resulted in long car lines for drop off and pickup outside schools, and expressed concern about how this contributes to climate change. Transportation was also raised as a distinct need for seniors. The Pleasanton Senior Center was often highlighted as an example of the provision of paratransit for seniors, but participants in Livermore noted that it either was not available or not well known as a resource for older adults. Some noted that paratransit shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, which cut them off from services and increased isolation and loneliness among older adults. Several participants emphasized the need to plan for transportation, given the aging population, Table 25. Subsidized Childcare in the Tri-Valley Source: First 5 Alameda County, 2022; TVAPC Data Profile, 202315 EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS ASSESSMENTSS Page 124 of 554