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DeFazio Announces $76,000 in Grant Funding for LTD RideSource Improvements

Elizabeth Gabriel
/
KLCC News

 

On Tuesday, Oregon U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio announced he has secured $76,000 in grant funding for improvements to Lane Transit District’s RideSource program.

The goal of the funding is to improve health outcomes and decrease health disparities experienced by disadvantaged communities. This includes senior citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals.

According to Representative DeFAzio’s press release, Lane County’s demographics prove that the county is reliant on transit and paratransit services.

“17% of residents identified as having a disability,” stated the press release. “Additionally, Lane County’s population is disproportionately older, with 25% of the population aged 60 and above. Further, approximately 20% of residents in Lane County live below poverty level, which is more than the state of Oregon as a whole, and the nation.”

The funds will be provided under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program.

“By eliminating barriers to transportation, the RideSource program helps to improve health outcomes among Lane County’s most vulnerable citizens,” said DeFazio. “I’m proud of this innovative program’s work and will continue to fight to ensure they have the funding necessary to continue their critical work in our community.”

With this grant, LTD will be able to make the following improvements to their RideSource call center’s software:

  • Reducing no-shows by providing advance trip notifications to remind customers of scheduled rides and allow cancellation in advance;

  • Create an online customer portal to allow 24/7 online booking, improving access for customers and reducing call volumes at the RideSource call center;

  • Integrate dispatch and drivers within a single mobile application, providing greater real-time information and better data management;

  • Allow same-day trip booking through Transportation Network Companies; and

  • Enhance coordination of medical and living facilities to better coordinate transportation of their clients.

Elizabeth Gabriel is a former KLCC Public Radio Foundation Journalism Fellow. She is an education reporter at WFYI in Indianapolis.
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