Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, Senior Rides Program
In 2023, Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments (WRCOG), serving as the Area Agency on Aging for a three-county urban, suburban and rural area, developed a consumer choice model for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers and individuals with low incomes. As a third-party provider or broker, WRCOG does not operate vehicles, but instead partners with 12 transportation programs and coordinates nearly 1,000 rides per month based on each rider’s preferred provider. Supported by a combination of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) and Older Americans Act Title IIIB funds, WRCOG has built partnerships with multiple local transportation providers, including transportation network companies (TNCs) Uber and Lyft.
What makes this innovative?
Rather than purchase and operate their own vehicles, WRCOG built partnerships with other transportation providers and acts as a third-party provider or broker, but those partnerships took time to build. Initially, WRCOG heard “no” from almost every partner it now works with, and they had to be patient and grow slowly. For example, while Uber and Lyft do not operate within WRCOG’s rural area, they have become partners for transporting riders into and out of the area once they saw the value of the program.
WRCOG determines program eligibility with a comprehensive assessment tool developed by the South Carolina Department on Aging. During home visits, adults ages 60 and older are assessed to determine their eligibility for numerous services, including home care, meals and transportation. To qualify for transportation services, older adults must be unable to use public, fixed-route transportation services due to mobility challenges or because they do not live close enough to a bus route. The level of travel assistance needed is also determined.
With its consumer choice Senior Rides Program, WRCOG targets riders who are not insured by Medicaid and eligible for CMS Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), and the program enables individuals to select transportation providers they know and trust, enhancing rider comfort, confidence and safety in every ride. The service can take them where they need and want to go. WRCOG reimburses ride costs from transportation agencies by invoice at a maximum rate of $250 per month per rider.
As WRCOG built its transportation program, it relied on internal staff and interns from local colleges. Today, as it has adapted to operational changes and growth, WRCOG employs two full-time mobility managers who are funded through FTA’s Section 5310 Program. The mobility managers educate riders about the transportation alternatives available in the area and coordinate accessible rides for more than 700 riders throughout the entire three-county service area.
Program oversight with partner agencies includes reviewing agency insurance policies and maintaining fleet lists from each agency. In turn, transportation partners are responsible for hiring drivers and conducting background checks. Finally, WRCOG promotes its services through conferences and speaking engagements, which has resulted in adding new partners to the agency.
Funding for this innovation is supported by FTA’s Section 5310, Older Americans Act and state funds.
Lessons Learned and Replication Advice
› Be persistent. Don’t be afraid when you initially hear “no” from potential partners. There may be another opportunity down the road.
› Try working with TNCs in rural areas. They add flexibility and can help build a consumer choice model.
› Grow slowly and build a team. Be prepared to adjust and adapt as you grow.
› Attend conferences and talk with others about your program. Connecting with other agencies can help a local program explore new ideas and identify potential partners.