I-way Blog

by John Murray, District 2 Mobility Manager

Rural Idaho suffers from a shortage of transportation options, particularly in those counties without urban centers. Residents of these communities tend to rely on their cars and trucks, and where they might not have access to a car they can become isolated, especially those residents in poverty or marginalized by circumstance. Human services agencies within rural Idaho see the impacts of transportation challenges daily. Without available mobility, human service clients have the hardest time making appointments for medical care or to receive benefits.

With that in mind, District 2 Mobility Management held a roundtable discussion regarding “Human Services and Rural Mobility Options in Lewis and Idaho Counties” in Grangeville. With the closures of Idaho Health and Welfare offices in Orofino and McCall, Grangeville has become a human services hub for people from as far away as Valley County. Participants heard about the mobility options available to clients and strategized how to match clients with transportation services. The greatest need identified at the meeting was to find a way to get clients with medical needs to low cost medical providers in Lewiston.

COAST Transportation offered the use of a van for the purpose if match funding could be found. Also, the group identified a need to expand and promote the existing volunteer driver program by matching human services clients with neighbors or friends willing to drive them. From the meeting came a realization that mobility options need to be at the forefront of discussions about providing human services in rural Idaho. I’m committed to ensuring that mobility options become available to all residents.

Below are other activities that have resulted in support of improved transportation for other populations within District 2:

• Lewiston Transit has proposed to the Lewiston City Council a policy for advertising on buses. The council is expected to act on the proposal in the next month. External and internal advertising will reduce operations costs by adding a new revenue stream, and increase exposure for the buses.
• The Associated Students of the University of Idaho have allocated $24,000 to Moscow Valley Transit. Additional funds to be collected in the spring semester will also be allocated. This is great news because it helps MVT to continue its current service and shows the support of the students of the University of Idaho for public transit.
• The community of Riggins and Canyon Area Bus System was one of only 10 communities nationwide picked by Easter Seals to receive Project Action training in developing accessible transportation. The two day event resulted in the establishment of the Riggins Area Transportation Coalition, whose mission is to “serve the needs of the community with safe, fun, affordable transportation options for all.

John Murray, CTAI District 2 Mobility Manager | jmurray@ctai.org |208.553.3076