Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s transportation planning board approved $10.7 million for projects designed to support older adults and people with disabilities.
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved 25 projects that support mobility for older adults and people with disabilities, with the goal of removing barriers to transportation services. Many of the projects, which include vehicle purchases, mobility management and travel training, are in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County will use the money to improve access to bus stops in communities with a high percentage of older adults and persons with disabilities.
The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center in Gaithersburg will use its award of $402,000 to provide daily Adult Medical Daycare door-to-door transportation service for up to 350 low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities. The center will replace some of its vehicles with 15 passenger wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Community Support Services in Gaithersburg will use its $437,000 to purchase seven minivans with capacity for one wheelchair and four other passengers per vehicle. It will partner with ParaMed Medical Transportation, Inc.
Easter Seals in Silver Spring will use its $763,000 to reduce participant travel time and improve transportation services, retain drivers, maintain its fleet, replace technology, and purchase one bus.
The Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington (JCA) in Rockville received two awards totaling $834,000. Its Elderbus program will use the money to transport older adults living within a five-mile radius of six Montgomery County senior centers to and from those centers, five days a week. The money will also be used to acquire two buses to help expand the program.
JCA will also expand its volunteer driving coordination program that shares ride scheduling systems, background checks and subsidized rides, and supports program development and guidance for start-ups, driver training and recruitment.
Leisure World of Maryland in Silver Spring will use its $299,000 grant to establish a free transit system that coordinates Leisure World buses and Dial-A-Ride services. Dial-A-Ride will add five new accessible minivans to help transport users to medical appointments, grocery stores and social activities, and two new accessible minivans to support Metro lines.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will use its $387,000 award to improve infrastructure at priority bus stops. Benches and shelters will provide seating options for passengers waiting for public transportation, while additional lighting will improve safety.
Transit Group, Inc. in Gaithersburg will its $205,000 award to add three wheelchair-accessible vehicles and expand capacity for WMATA Metro Access riders, as well as Medicaid-eligible individuals using the Rides to Health program for dialysis, medical appointments and treatments in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
Opportunities, Inc. in Gaithersburg will use its $652,000 award for its travel training program for participants who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, in partnership with the Arc of Northern Virginia. Opportunities will hire new employees to help expand the program in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
Regency Taxi in Gaithersburg will use its $220,000 to purchase three wheelchair accessible vehicles.
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