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COPTA mobility report: senior services, bus-passes and 'Climb Ride' program show rising demand; authority gains direct Section 5310 funds
Summary
Mobility staff told trustees that senior services, bus-pass distributions and the Climb Ride program are growing rapidly and that Embark has become the direct recipient of Section 5310 federal funds to expand nonprofit mobility services.
Mobility Management staff presented program results through May 2025 and provided June updates at the July 11 meeting, reporting growth across multiple targeted programs and new federal funding. Staff reported more than 60,000 trips expected for the fiscal year in senior services and community-development bus-pass programs after June usage surged. Senior ‘‘vital access’’ trips include rides for voting, medical needs not covered by other programs, Social Security appointments and other essential errands. Key program notes: - Senior services (Older Americans Act funding): weekly grocery trips, daily meal sites, medical trips and ‘‘vital access’’ rides; ridership projected to exceed 60,000 trips by year end. - Community development bus passes: staff used additional funding to distribute a large volume of bus passes in June, pushing totals over 60,000 passes year to date. - Climb Ride program (child-welfare and transition-age youth): staff reported roughly 6,000 child-welfare trips and about 3,000 transition-age youth trips (Pivot partnership) through June; staff described examples of clients using reliable transportation to secure higher-paying jobs. - EmbarkWell senior health and wellness program: ridership increased to about 6,500 by June; staff received permission to braid local funds with Section 5310 operating assistance to double the program budget next year. - Section 5310 funds: Embark is now the direct recipient of federal Section 5310 apportionment funds (staff cited about $1.2 million/year). Projects funded include new vehicles for nonprofit agencies, software for coordinated scheduling and preventative maintenance support. Staff said they have completed two application cycles for FFY2022 and FFY2023 funds and plan additional mobility navigator positions for surrounding counties. Trustees received the report; staff said many programs are grant-funded and expanding and that they will return with program updates and any requested policy actions.
