Community transportation resources

Policymakers and the private sector should develop and implement transportation programs and services to improve community transportation resources for older adults. Particular attention should be given to the needs of those living in rural areas. This includes creating innovative, sustainable transportation models for older adults and people with disabilities in rural communities. 

Private bus companies should be required to carry adequate insurance to cover their passengers in the event of a crash. This includes “intercity” buses (which can go across state lines), such as Greyhound, and charter buses (see also Insurance). 

States should use the flexible funding offered under the Section 5311(f) rural transit/intercity bus grant program, which funds bus services that connect rural communities to long-haul intercity bus and rail service. 

Governments should increase funding for the operating and capital costs of rural public transportation and provide for monitoring and evaluating such transportation to help identify improvement and expansion needs. 

Native Americans and Alaska Natives: Congress should increase funding for the Section 5311 rural transit program, including the Tribal Transit Program. Grant recipients of the Tribal Transit Program should be required to coordinate transportation services with Title VI Native American aging programs funded under the Older Americans Act. 

Congress should increase funding for the Tribal Transportation Program and encourage expenditures to be integrated with economic development, housing, and land-development plans. 

The Department of Transportation and the Administration for Community Living should provide funds to state and local governments to initiate innovative, sustainable transportation models for older adults and people with disabilities in rural communities. 

States should: 

• ensure funding mechanisms for operating and capital expenses for rural public transportation, 
• promote and monitor the coordination of transportation funding and programs in rural areas, and 
• develop affordable public and private nonemergency medical transportation. 

Technical assistance: State departments of transportation should provide adequate technical assistance to rural areas to support effective, coordinated transportation planning. 

State departments of transportation should provide a full public outreach and education program to rural areas to ensure local governments are knowledgeable about all available federal funding for rural areas and programmatic (application) requirements.