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UDDC presents rural transportation plan; BRAG urges door‑to‑door service for seniors
Summary
At a June 23 workshop the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC) and Bright Star Consulting outlined a five‑year rural mobility plan and survey results showing limited transit prevents access to medical care and groceries; BRAG emphasized door‑to‑door programs and the county’s eligibility to apply for federal UDDC grants.
At a Cache County Council workshop on June 23, 2026, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council Executive Director Elizabeth Oseguera outlined the council’s five‑year state plan and results from a statewide transit survey showing limited transit options severely reduce access to medical appointments, grocery shopping and prescription refills in rural areas.
Avery Walsh of Bright Star Consulting and Alyssa Cronin, BRAG mobility manager, told the council fixed‑route transit is often impractical across wide rural distances and recommended volume‑based approaches—voucher programs, mileage reimbursement, and centralized mobility management—to stretch federal funds. Walsh described BRAG’s role in the local system and said the organization acts like a "social worker for transportation" in coordinating services, a characterization the council and staff discussed as a model for non‑fixed‑route solutions.
Oseguera told the council the UDDC is "100% federally funded" and explained UDDC grants use the state competitive bid process; she clarified that because Cronin is a governor‑appointed UDDC member BRAG cannot receive UDDC grants directly, but the county can apply. Councilmembers discussed connecting the county grant writer with BRAG to pursue awards and outline local infrastructure needs.
Councilmember JoAnn Bennett gave a personal example of using BRAG’s mileage reimbursement for medical trips and recovery, reinforcing testimony about barriers to accessing health care without reliable rural mobility options. Alyssa Cronin urged support for specialized nonprofit providers (such as Susie’s Senior Companionship Services) over commercial rideshare platforms that cannot reliably offer door‑to‑door assistance or guaranteed vehicle accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.
Next steps discussed at the workshop included staff introductions between BRAG and the county grant writer and further exploration of voucher and reimbursement program pilots to maximize limited federal funding for rural mobility.
