Administration Awards $5.8 Million in Grants to Expand Mobility for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, ...
For immediate release:
March 5, 2025
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is awarding $5.8 million in funding to 44 organizations for 56 projects that expand and enhance mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals across Massachusetts. The awards are provided through the Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP) and will allow Regional Transit Authorities, municipalities, and nonprofits to provide rides for people who would otherwise be unable to get to their destinations; hire staff to help people learn about and learn to use transportation options; and convene regional partners to collaborate to fill gaps in the transportation network; among other approaches to enhancing mobility.
“Every investment we make in public transportation is an investment to connect more individuals and households to opportunities and to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We commend everyone who competed for funding available through this program and made a strong case for the importance of connectivity and transportation education in their respective communities.”
“As a former mayor I have seen first-hand how money going to public transportation can make a difference in people’s everyday lives, especially when it helps to advance projects that help everyone get around,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are proud to support our local and regional partners who are putting forward innovative initiatives to connect people to important destinations and increase access to locations and connections.”
“We are pleased to see such a variety of initiatives aimed at improving transit services, including travel training for individuals in need of assistance, services for older riders, and the expansion of existing offerings,” said Transportation Secretary & CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt.“Efforts like these greatly contribute to making our transportation network more accessible and equitable.”
“The need for these transportation investments is clear given how many of our partners competed for funding to enhance services for travelers who rely on transit to get to their medical appointments, jobs, grocery shopping, and community and social gatherings,” said Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger. “We look forward to seeing these projects improve connectivity across Massachusetts.”
This round of operating grants includes funding for long-distance medical shuttles that help riders access appointments, services providing rides in rural areas with limited public transit, and a pilot to provide door-through-door transportation support for people traveling to medical appointments where they will be under anesthesia, among others.
Mobility management grants include, among other things, funding to hire travel trainers who help teach people the skills and information they need to ride the bus independently and safely, funding to convene local organizations around shared needs and opportunities for improving mobility, and development of training to help older adults learn how to use google maps and other apps to expand their mobility.
MassDOT received 79 applications from 59 organizations with a total request of over $14 million. Community Transit Grant Program awards are funded using $4 million from the Education and Transportation Fund through the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget, as well as $1.8 million in Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 funding.
Full List of Awards
Applicant | Project Summary | Award |
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority | Continue BRTA's travel training program. | $9,300 |
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority | Provide paratransit rides to seniors in towns with limited or no service, expanding on BRTA's FY24 grant to pilot senior medical transit. | $151,012 |
Bridgewater Council on Aging | Provide on-demand (same-day) rides for seniors and persons with disabilities in Bridgewater and West Bridgewater. | $100,000 |
Brockton Area Transit Authority | Provide paratransit in Avon and Stoughton outside of where it is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. | $25,000 |
Brockton Area Transit Authority | Continue microtransit services in Rockland. | $225,000 |
Brookline Council on Aging | Expand Council on Aging transportation services to include late afternoon rides and grocery runs. | $50,000 |
Brookline Council on Aging | Develop a curriculum to teach seniors how to use Google Maps and Apple Maps to find transit options. | $8,030 |
Callahan Center – City of Framingham's Older Adult (Senior) Center | Purchase taxi rides for seniors who need medical trips that cannot be met by Council on Aging or MWRTA services. | $10,000 |
Cape Ann Transportation Authority | Provide dialysis rides outside of CATA's district. | $130,563 |
Cape Ann Transportation Authority | Provide medical and grocery rides above and beyond CATA's regular services. | $202,286 |
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority | Add a phone option to microtransit booking for people without access to the app. | $198,310 |
City of Lynn | Hire staff to educate and connect residents to transportation options and expand City-run transportation options. | $100,000 |
City of Quincy Council on Aging | Expand Council on Aging transportation to better meet demand. | $100,000 |
Franklin Regional Transit Authority | Cover the cost of a travel trainer/outreach staff to educate people about FRTA services. | $78,804 |
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) | Provide long-distance medical transportation for older adults and persons with disabilities in all GATRA communities. | $250,000 |
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) | Resume three days/week, long-distance medical transportation up Route 3 in partnership with Councils on Aging. | $150,000 |
Greater Lynn Senior Services, Inc. | Provide travel training and mobility management for older adults along the North Shore. | $78,639 |
Groveland Council on Aging | Purchase fuel and fund repairs for Council on Aging van. | $5,000 |
Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass | Reinvigorate Regional Coordinating Council and expand Ayer’s Council on Aging transportation in light of the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. | $259,270 |
Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard | Cover the cost of a mobility manager for coalition focused on older adults on Martha's Vineyard. | $76,000 |
Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard Inc/ Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority | Provide senior transportation on Martha's Vineyard through shuttles and a volunteer driver program. | $50,000 |
Helping Our Women Inc | Assist women with chronic health conditions in finding transportation to medical appointments. | $69,446 |
Hilltown Community Development | Expand mobility through use of a driver pool (drivers paid to use their own cars) when the van is not available or not efficient. | $150,000 |
Lowell Regional Transit Authority | Provide education and training about LRTA services to older adults, persons with disabilities, and partner agencies. | $56,960 |
Lowell Regional Transit Authority | Provide long-distance medical transportation for five Councils on Aging, plus a vehicle maintenance co-op program. | $163,320 |
Martha's Vineyard Center for Living | Make use of a van during unused hours to take older adults and persons with disabilities grocery shopping. | $27,610 |
Melrose Council on Aging | Expand Council on Aging transportation to help meet demand. | $10,000 |
MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) | Pilot a dial-a-ride program in Milford and microtransit services in Milford and Hopedale. | $250,000 |
MeVa Transit (Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority) | Provide training for area human service agencies on MeVa's fixed route and paratransit. | $138,400 |
Montachusett Regional Transit Authority | Pilot microtransit services in Ayer, Shirley, Lancaster, and Devens. | $270,000 |
Mystic Valley Elder Services | Distribute information about transportation options for older adults and persons with disabilities. | $62,203 |
Mystic Valley Elder Services | Provide volunteer driver mileage reimbursement for older adults and persons with disabilities. | $50,000 |
Needham Council on Aging | Provide GoGo rides for Needham seniors to medical appointments. | $10,000 |
Northern Essex Elder Transport, Inc. "NEET" | Fund a volunteer driver program serving 13 Councils on Aging. | $100,000 |
Old Colony Planning Council | Fund a volunteer driver program serving eight Councils On Aging. | $30,000 |
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority | Provide travel training for older adults and persons with disabilities on the PVTA fixed-route system. | $122,315 |
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority | Provide senior transportation through participating Councils on Aging in the PVTA region. | $313,586 |
Quaboag Connector | Provide demand-response transportation in 10 rural towns. | $252,000 |
Rutland Council on Aging | Operate Council on Aging transportation service to fill gaps not served by WRTA's SCM Elderbus contract. | $50,000 |
S.C.M. Community Transportation Corporation | Pilot extended hours along with a fixed-route shuttle to increase efficiency. | $100,000 |
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services | Distribute transportation information and provide referrals for older adults and persons with disabilities. | $69,122 |
South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. (SSCAC) | Fund operating support for SSCAC's contracted trips. | $49,033 |
Taking People Places, Inc. | Cover the cost of rideshare for clients of 12 to 15 participating social services agencies. | $67,500 |
Town of Acton | Shared regional dispatch for COA and other transportation in Acton, Littleton, and Sudbury | $125,000 |
Town of Andover, Elder Services Division | Expand on Council on Aging transportation to meet regional unmet needs, such as escort to anesthesia appointments. | $40,000 |
Town of Great Barrington | Provide demand-response transportation in seven rural towns. | $252,000 |
Town of Lexington Transportation Services | Fund operating support for Lexpress fixed-route service. | $75,000 |
Town of North Reading | Cover the cost of staff to assist town seniors with transportation and fund volunteer driver reimbursement for medical trips not covered by public transit or paratransit. | $50,000 |
Tri-Valley Inc. | Provide rides for older adults, persons with disabilities, and veterans in 21 towns. | $250,000 |
Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires (VIM) | Fund long-distance medical rides by taxi when a volunteer driver is not available for immigrants and low-income individuals ineligible for health insurance. | $100,000 |
Winchendon Senior Center | Expand Council on Aging transportation to serve older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. | $50,000 |
Worcester Regional Transit Authority | Hire a second full-time travel trainer to expand travel training program. | $92,220 |
Worcester Regional Transit Authority | Fund taxi rides for Holden older adults and persons with disabilities when a Council on Aging van is unavailable. | $10,000 |
Worcester Regional Transit Authority | Provide employment transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities and other transportation-disadvantaged riders in four towns. | $45,000 |
Worcester Regional Transit Authority | Provide mid-day service to Worcester for older adults and persons with disabilities in 22 rural and suburban towns. | $20,000 |
YMCA Attleboro The Community Access to Rides Program | Provide funding to a consortium of eight agencies to cover the cost of rideshare for clients when public transit is not available. | $33,261 |
| Total | $5,811,190 |
For more information on specific projects from the list above, please reach out to MassDOT. For more information on the Community Transit Grant Program, visit https://www.mass.gov/community-transit-grant-program
