Manor council approves letter of support for Senior Access FTA 5310 grant to keep rides for older residents

The City of Manor voted to authorize a letter of support for Senior Access's application to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 funding, which the agency uses to support transportation for older adults and people with disabilities.

Sarita Lacasse, executive director of Senior Access, told council the program launched service in Manor in 2019 and provides scheduled fixed‑route van trips to grocery stores and a mix of one‑on‑one volunteer rides to medical appointments and errands. Lacasse said the program served nine Manor clients when it started and now has 31 active clients in the city area, and that the FTA 5310 funds reimburse the service for Lyft/ride‑hail costs and for van maintenance.

Lacasse described operations including client eligibility (age 60+, Manor city limits and ETJ), home visits for new clients, volunteer “senior buddy” support, and the program’s tracking and “concierge” capability for ride‑hail monitoring. She asked council to provide a letter of support; councilwoman Ann Weir made the motion and council passed it without objection.

Council members asked operational questions, including whether the service could accommodate early morning school‑related drop‑offs for a “grandparents” program and about cost and scheduling strategies to avoid ride‑hail surge pricing. Lacasse said early‑morning pickups have been difficult to secure through ride‑hail but that volunteers could be a solution.

Action: Council approved the requested letter of support for the Senior Access FTA 5310 grant application.