The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation on behalf of the Alliance for Community Transportation (ACT). The funds will help expand ACT’s Community Rides service, which offers fare-free transportation to medical appointments for older adults and individuals living with disabilities.
Community Rides is a service of ACT, southeastern New Hampshire's Regional Coordination Council for Community Transportation. Launched in 2014, the program serves individuals who do not qualify for or are underserved by other transportation programs in the region. In 2024 alone, the program provided 600 rides to 71 individuals.
“Community Rides has always been a relatively small program, meant to fill in the gaps between others. But demand is increasing,” said Jeff Donald, regional mobility manager for ACT and TripLink. “We’re excited that the Greater Rochester Community Health Foundation is investing in the expansion of the program so we can provide more trips for more people.”
Recent surveys in the region have shown that aging in place is a priority for seniors and individuals living with disabilities, but transportation remains a significant concern.
“Expanding transportation options in the region, especially for essential needs like healthcare, will have an outsized impact on those trying to stay in their long-term homes as they get older,” said Donald.
Trip requests for Community Rides go through the regional call center, TripLink, and assigns them to one of three partner agencies: COAST, Meals on Wheels of Rockingham County, or Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. TripLink manages the trip schedules for all three agencies and is able to decide which is best suited to provide the ride.
Individuals needing transportation can visit TripLink's website, communityrides.org, or call 603-834-6010 to learn more about the programs they may qualify for.