The Point: Applications due February 17 to help seniors, others with local transportation needs
Riding a shuttle to attend Boys & Girls Club programs before and after school. Getting a ride to cancer treatment appointments. Travel training for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Specialized transit services like these are lifelines for many western Riverside County residents, helping them to be more mobile and independent.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission is seeking grant applications from agencies and organizations that offer transportation programs for older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income individuals in western Riverside County where public transportation services are unavailable or insufficient.
Eligible applicants include public agencies, human and social service agencies, tribal governments, and private non-profits.
Funding is largely provided by Measure A, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Riverside County.
Applications are due February 17 at 4 p.m. More information and application forms are available on the RCTC website. During the last grant award process in 2018, RCTC allocated $8.2 million to 18 organizations and agencies.
The Commission will rate the applications and award up to $8.76 million to groups that are able to provide transportation programs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024.
Programs can include bus or shuttle operations, distribution of transit passes, vehicle purchases or capital leases, or training to help riders navigate the transit system.
“These specialized transportation services are truly a lifeline for our residents in western Riverside County. Without transportation options like Operation Safehouse, which helps homeless and at-risk youth, or Friends of Moreno Valley Senior Center, many people would be unable to go to school, to work, to the grocery store, or to doctor’s appointments,” said RCTC Chair and Palm Desert Mayor Pro Tem Jan Harnik. “We strongly encourage groups to apply for these funds, which are available only every three years.”
For questions, please contact RCTC staff at specializedtransit@rctc.org or at (951) 787-7141.