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Transit director says federal rules and funding block rural patients from Richmond Transit; commissioners ask administration for review
Summary
A renal social worker urged Richmond Transit to serve dialysis patients in microtransit zones; transit staff said federal 5311 rural grant rules and lack of funding prevent adding riders in certain areas and that a Smart Grant application failed. The commission unanimously asked administration to develop options to expand service.
A renal social worker told the Augusta Commission that dialysis patients are being told their addresses fall in microtransit zones and therefore do not qualify for Richmond Transit, leaving some chronically ill people without reliable transport for life-sustaining treatments.
Chelsea Carlson, a renal social worker, described multiple patients who cannot access consistent transit to dialysis. "These chronically ill patients require this dialysis as life sustaining treatment 3 times a week, 4 hours at a time," Carlson said, explaining that missed sessions often lead to…
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