INTRODUCTION

This resource presents six Transportation Innovations selected by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) through a nationwide competition. The Showcase profiles out-of-the-box thinking and alignment of resources. Innovations may be entirely original or represent a creative adaptation of an approach that has worked in other places or program settings or with different populations. NADTC has defined innovations as the development and implementation of new services; new or improved approaches to service delivery, accessibility, planning or program oversight; new solutions to longstanding problems; new ways of engaging, serving and improving accessibility for specific underserved, marginalized or hard-to-reach communities; multisector coordination to improve accessibility and services; or new technological applications to enhance participation and accessibility. NADTC received 11 submissions that met the criteria of being in operation for a minimum of six months; representing a local, state, regional or tribal entity or organization, whether private, nonprofit, or government; and providing information on community partnerships, funding sources, community need, outcomes, lessons learned and replicability. The six organizations whose innovations were selected are organized into categories. Four program innovations, indicated by an asterisk, fall into more than category.

Accessibility
• CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, My Freedom Transportation Program*
• Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council, Equity in Motion*
• Freedom Road Transportation Authority Volunteer Program*
• District Department of Transportation goDCgo
• Thunder Bay Transportation Authority, Expanding Access: A Mobility Growth Initiative
• Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, Senior Rides Program*

Credit: EMBARK, Oklahoma City, OK

Coordination
• Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, Senior Rides Program*

Cross Jurisdictional Boundaries
• CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, My Freedom Transportation Program*

Health Care Access
• Freedom Road Transportation Authority Volunteer Program*

Technology
• Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council, Equity in Motion*

The  six transportation programs whose innovations are profiled here use a variety of approaches, strategies, tools, techniques and ideas. It is NADTC’s hope that other transportation programs will consider adapting one or more of the Innovations to meet identified needs in their own communities. To learn more, please contact NADTC or reach out to any of the Innovators profiled in this resource.

2025 SELECTED PROGRAMS

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, My Freedom Transportation Program

Category: Accessibility and Cross jurisdictional boundaries
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Contact: Karren Brooks, kbrooks@cicoa.org

CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving eight counties in Central Indiana. It receives the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) funding to support ADA accessible vehicle purchases for its Way2Go senior transportation services within Marion County to medical appointments, pharmacy runs or grocery shopping. Way2go also operates a low-cost, cross-county transportation option called My Freedom for older adults and people with any disability in Central Indiana.

CICOA partners with the Central Indiana Regional Transit Authority (CIRTA) and uses a combination of FTA’s Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307), Older Americans Act (OAA) Title IIIB and CIRTA Public Mass Transit Funding (PMTF) to support the program. Section 5307 funds can be used for specialized transportation by urban areas with more than 50,000 residents. My Freedom ensures older adults and people with disabilities have dependable cross-county transportation for such needs as medical appointments and dialysis, pharmacy trips and socialization. CICOA partners with the local cab company, zTrip, to provide the transportation service. One staff position within CICOA manages program operations along with other responsibilities. Without this program, riders would be required to change providers at each county line, which is inefficient for transportation providers and inconvenient for riders.

What makes this innovative?

My Freedom provides cross-county trips for older adults and individuals of any age with any disability. No other program in Central Indiana offers this service. The program is low-cost and, thanks to its partnerships with CIRTA and zTrip, provides cross-county rides 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This service is designed to be flexible and responsive to riders’ needs. For example, one rider’s work shift ends at 3:15 a.m. My Freedom ensures he can get to and from his job at any time.

A key innovation is the program’s use of Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds to meet the Section 5307 match requirement, which blends human services funding with transit dollars in a way that is both permissible and replicable.

Current funding allows this program to be offered at a discounted rate. Riders pay only 25 percent of the total roundtrip cost, while the remaining 75 percent is paid by the program. This discounted low-cost program helps make frequent trips more affordable for those with limited incomes.

In 2024, My Freedom provided 1,283 trips to 103 different clients within an eight-county area. Offering various trip purposes from medical appointments to social activities, the provider accommodates both ambulatory and nonambulatory riders.

Funding for this innovation is supported by FTA’s Section 5307 funds. Matching funds and additional support for the program are provided by OAA Title IIIB, CIRTA’s PMTF and SSBG.

Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:

• Identify matching funds. Putting together multiple funding sources, including an SSBG, is key to covering costs and providing match to federal funding. CICOA also asks riders to cover 25 percent of the ride cost.
• Partner with a local cab company to expand transportation options, hours of service the service area, including across county lines.
• Dedicate staff time to manage the program and conduct outreach to raise awareness in the community.

Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council, Equity in Motion

Category: Accessibility and Technology
Location: Denver, CO
Contact: Coleen Samuels, csamuels@drmac-co.org

Photo Credit: DRMAC

The Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC) serves as the Regional Coordinating Council for nine counties in central Colorado, including the Denver Metro area. It coordinates transportation for the region and includes transportation providers, users and advocates. DRMAC has launched a three-part training program using the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) funds to tackle persistent barriers in mobility and service delivery. The goal is to ensure access for all—including older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, low-income residents and the general public—through partnerships with government agencies, private sector leaders, community organizations and technology providers.

What makes this innovative?

The three-part training program includes “Getting There Travel Training,” technology training and a self-paced online learning system. Getting There Travel Training integrates personalized services and technology to meet riders’ unique needs and helps them become more comfortable with using alternative modes of transportation. It addresses barriers such as limited access to real-time information, payment systems and route planning tools. Getting There Travel Training is offered in-person through partnerships across sectors of the community with follow-up sessions as needed. According to surveys, 80 percent of riders who have completed the training, including those with physical and cognitive challenges, report feeling more independent and empowered to travel without assistance.

DRMAC’s technology training offers basic technology education to help users navigate transit apps, including Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD’s) full range of light rail and bus services, Uber and Lyft. Finally, its learning management system enables DRMAC to deliver interactive, self-paced training online. Users learn at their own pace while gaining knowledge to overcome mobility challenges and make informed transportation decisions.

The training introduces participants to alternative modes of transportation, including on-demand ride services that accommodate mobility devices and special health requests, to ensure riders have door-to-door service when they need it. Additionally, caregiver support services are integrated into applications to allow for coordinated travel options, making it easier for both caregivers and those they assist to arrange transportation.

This innovation is funded by FTA Section 5310 with matching funds from Older Americans Act (OAA) Title IIIB funding.

Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:

• Offer personalized instruction to increase rider confidence, particularly for those with physical or cognitive challenges.
• Form community partnerships to ensure the program addresses community needs and to increase its reach and effectiveness.
• Offer follow-up sessions and ongoing assistance to ensure participants feel supported as they independently navigate the transportation system.
• Provide training on how to use Smartphones, apps and schedules with simple, user-friendly technology designed with accessibility in mind.
• Incorporate training for family members and caregivers to ensure they are prepared to provide support when needed.

Freedom Road Transportation Authority Volunteer Program

Category: Accessibility and Health Care Access
Location: Orion, MI
Contact: Karen Boice, boicefrt@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Freedom Road Transportation

Freedom Road Transportation Authority (FRTA) is a nonprofit organization with a distinctive volunteer driving program—distinctive because it eliminates transportation program operations like scheduling, route-setting and the cost of vehicles and staff. The program enables older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals to choose their own drivers, including family members, and set their own schedules for any travel destination. The program is funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) and private foundation grants. It began in 2008 and was modeled after TRIP in Riverside, California, which is a collaborative partnership between the Independent Living Partnership, the local Area Agency on Aging and the regional planning organization.

Eligibility is based on an individual’s inability to use public transportation; supported by a doctor’s letter; and either Medicaid or a state benefit ID that verifies age, disability and income qualifications (i.e., annual income of $22,000 or less). Freedom Road Transportation increases rider independence and mobility and is a simple, safe option for anyone who is unable to access or use public transportation.

The program offers mileage reimbursement for riders who have their own drivers. Each rider is eligible for 200 miles per month and reimbursed at a set rate per mile, which can be used for any type of travel. Riders are responsible for paying their drivers. The program supports residents of Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Monroe Counties. Freedom Road Transportation uses the TRIPtrak Software, and the primary costs for operating the program are administrative, including obtaining matching funds, tracking program costs, processing mileage reimbursement forms from riders, providing mobility management, and conducting outreach and marketing.

What makes this innovative?

This volunteer driver transportation program provides mileage reimbursement to riders, and it eliminates barriers and access issues for riders, allowing them to schedule rides as needed with drivers whom they choose. It is a cost-effective use of funding, and it is a safe and flexible option for riders who experience anxiety issues or may feel vulnerable with unfamiliar drivers or in unfamiliar situations. It fills gaps in public transportation and goes beyond ADA requirements by offering unrestricted travel. Riders can use their miles for any purpose, such as attending community events or faith services, visiting family/friends, going to the doctor and accessing basic needs. There is no cost to riders for this program. The reimbursement from the agency is to the rider, not the driver, so it does not impact the driver’s income or eligibility for benefits.

Freedom Road Transportation measures its success through customer satisfaction surveys, consistently achieving approximately 90-percent satisfaction. The agency regularly receives letters of gratitude and support from riders and their referral partners, including hospitals, senior centers, the local Area Agency on Aging, health network communities and local government. Since inception, Freedom Road Transportation has reimbursed more than 1.6 million miles, provided 15,359 one-way trips and has 120 active riders enrolled in the program.

Funding for this innovation is provided by FTA’s Section 5310 and private foundation grants.

Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:

• Consider other transportation providers’ innovations and look for ways to modify and implement for your own agency.
• Conduct community outreach and marketing to promote any new transportation program, and recruit riders and community organizations, particularly aging and disability service providers, willing to make referrals.
• Provide mobility management to riders with other resources and planning assistance on all transportation options available in the community.
• Set up a system to track program expenses and trip information and handle necessary paperwork like mileage forms submitted by riders for reimbursement.

District Department of Transportation goDCgo

Category: Accessibility
Location: Washington, DC
Contact: Jessica Lin, Jessica.lin@godcgo.com

Photo credit: goDCgo

Credit: goDCgo

goDCgo is an initiative of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) that encourages the use of sustainable transportation, which it defines as modes of travel that reduce environmental impact such as riding public transit, biking, walking, carpooling and scooting. It provides complimentary transit resources and transportation assistance to organizations and commuters in the District of Columbia (DC), with the goal of decreasing traffic congestion and creating a better quality of life.

In 2024, goDCgo launched a new travel training service to raise awareness of the District’s transportation network and break down anxieties and barriers to using multimodal transportation. The service offers in-person and virtual education to DC residents on how to independently travel using transportation options like public transit, bikeshare, carpool and rideshare. Through multimodal travel training, goDCgo has helped build confidence to enable residents, including older adults and people with disabilities, to feel comfortable taking alternative transportation, reducing their reliance on driving or riding in a car.

What makes this innovative?

Older adults often face significant barriers to confident travel, including lack of experience with public transportation, high costs, fear and safety concerns. goDCgo’s two-part travel training sessions directly address these challenges. Through classroom instruction, participants—specifically older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers—receive resources tailored to their individual needs and education on safely navigating local transportation options—Metrorail, buses, shuttles and ridesharing. Topics covered include trip planning, safety information and accessible transportation alternatives. To ease financial concerns, presenters educate participants about senior and low-income discount programs and provide each attendee with a $20 SmarTrip card to begin their journey. Beyond the classroom, new riders are offered a hands-on excursion, allowing participants to practice real-world navigation and gain the confidence to travel independently.
While the District’s other travel training programs tend to focus on public transit systems, goDCgo’s travel training events are the first to cover sustainable transportation options. goDCgo’s events are also unique for their hands-on coaching style of education that ensures comprehensive education on all options offered within the District’s transportation network. The result is increased access to healthcare, community programs, grocery stores and much more.
Funding for DDOT’s goDCgo program comes from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which supports this innovation. FHWA provides a flexible funding source for transportation projects and programs that meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments.

Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:

• Offer travel training incentives such as gift card raffles and free transit cards with pre-loaded values, to encourage attendance and participation.
• Partner with local agencies to capture a wider audience.
• Encourage hands-on excursions with participants to destinations important to them so that travel training becomes fun, engaging and meaningful.

Thunder Bay Transportation Authority, Expanding Access: A Mobility Growth Initiative

Category: Accessibility
Location: Alpena, MI
Contact: Angie Fox, executive director, director@thunderbaytransportation.com 

Photo credit: Thunder Bay Transportation

Thunder Bay Transportation Authority serves as the only public transportation provider for a four-county area of northeastern Michigan. It offers fixed route, paratransit, CMS Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and specialized transportation services, reducing transportation barriers for essential trips like medical appointments, employment and daily needs for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income residents. While Thunder Bay is a licensed CMS Medicaid NEMT provider and receives Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310) funding for capital vehicle purchases, it uses FTA’s Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Section 5311) to go beyond more typical CMS Medicaid NEMT to integrate technology, route optimization and partnerships. The result is accessible, reliable and affordable non-emergency medical transportation provided in a remote area.

What makes this innovative?

Thunder Bay Transportation Authority offers demand-response rides tailored to the needs of rural older adults, people with disabilities and low-income residents. The agency trains drivers in disability awareness, customer service and emergency protocols and coordinates with local agencies, such as the Area Agency on Aging, healthcare providers and workforce organizations, to ensure resident access to essential services. This holistic approach fills critical gaps in this rural area and helps to ensure that individuals remain independent and connected. Thunder Bay has experienced a 40-percent increase in demand for NEMT trips in just the past year, and the expanded services have strengthened regional mobility and fostered economic stability.

Funding for this innovation comes from FTA Sections 5310 and 5311 as well as CMS Medicaid NEMT.

Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:

• Engage with older adults, people with disabilities and community stakeholders early to ensure services are designed to meet actual needs.
• Secure funding and partners to maintain long-term service operations.
• Leverage route optimization software and real-time scheduling technology to improve efficiencies, reduce wait times and reach more clients with fewer resources.
• Train drivers in disability awareness, customer service and emergency protocols to ensure safe and respectful service.
• Focus on community needs, funding sustainability and operational flexibility to expand transportation access and improve quality of life for hard-to-reach rural populations.

Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, Senior Rides Program

Category: Accessibility And Coordination
Location: Georgetown, SC
Contact: Justin Blomdahl, Aging Program Coordinator, jblomdahl@wrcog.org

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.