The Redwood Coast Transit Authority voted Oct. 27 to launch a pilot partnership with the Del Norte Health Care District to subsidize local medical trips on the Dial-a-Ride service.

Under the pilot, trips with a medical facility as an origin or destination would be discounted at the point of boarding: general public riders would pay $3 one-way and ADA-eligible riders would pay $1 one-way. The district would pay a rider-side subsidy (covering the difference between the normal fare and the discounted rider fare) and a separate $5 per-trip operating stipend to Redwood Coast Transit. Staff explained the combined payments mean the agency would receive approximately $11 per general public medical trip (rider $3 plus district $8 total contribution) and a smaller sum for ADA-eligible trips.

Joe explained the reasoning: the district wants to reduce barriers to local medical appointments; staff noted Dial-a-Ride trips cost the agency many times the passenger fare (staff estimated about $40 per trip delivered) and recommended the pilot include a per-trip operating contribution from the district to offset increased demand. The board discussed CTSA funding limits (the agency’s CTSA allocation fluctuates with TDA and has been in the $35,000–$45,000 range) and how sustained growth in demand could affect regular RCTA resources.

Board members moved and seconded the pilot’s launch (a start date of Nov. 1, 2025 was proposed in the motion). The clerk recorded unanimous yes votes from the directors present.

Staff will report back annually on pilot uptake, CTSA budget impacts and whether the program should be adjusted or expanded.