County hears plan for $100,000 rural mobility study with chance at $600,000 pilot

Deborah Hyatt, representing Phoenix Mobility Rising, told commissioners the group received a $100,000 planning award through the University of Minnesota’s Mobility Access, Transportation and Security (MONTY/MATES) program to map barriers and co‑design solutions for Hillsdale County.

Hyatt said Phase 1 activities include focus groups, resident interviews, data mapping and outreach to veterans, new parents and frontline staff to document ‘‘coverage gaps’’ such as after‑hours service limits and rural boundary exclusions. She described the proposal’s goal: a countywide plan that could win a competitive Phase 2 award of about $600,000 to deploy pilot services — flexible microtransit, weekend expansions and a hybrid app/dispatch booking system — and explore a county transportation authority governance model.

Commissioners asked about funding sources and the timeline. Hyatt said the University of Minnesota award covers the one‑year planning phase; Phoenix Mobility Rising and local partners would lead community engagement and analyze county‑level costs. She asked for county cooperation — data sharing, participation in focus groups and assistance identifying partners such as the senior center, hospitals and VA providers.

The presentation emphasized local barriers recounted by residents: long walking distances to pickup points, lack of after‑hours transit for shift workers, and limited awareness of existing services. Hyatt said the planning grant is intended to be community‑led and that implementation funding would depend on winning the Phase 2 award.

The board did not take a formal vote on county expenditure at the meeting; commissioners indicated interest in staying involved and requested follow‑up reporting as planning proceeds.