Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority Awarded $250,000 Grant for Pilot Project to Enhance Transportation Options to Healthcare Services

Feonix - Mobility Rising to recruit drivers for community shuttle services in Richland and Lexington County.

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Jul 09, 2019, 08:37 ET

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia-area operator of mass transportation, The COMET, will help more residents get to the doctor and other medical appointments, thanks to a competitive $250,000 grant awarded to Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority. With the kick-off of the pilot program, The COMET will offer shuttle service to bus stops throughout Lexington and Richland counties to help residents complete important healthcare-related trips.

26 of the 38 COMET routes are within a ¼-mile radius of one of the 14 hospital facilities and 13 dialysis centers in the service area.

TheCOMET Bus traveling in Columbia, South Carolina.

Access to medical care is essential, and many area residents face barriers that prevent them from traveling that first or last few miles to the bus stop. According to the Central Midlands Council of Governments, 26 of the 38 COMET routes are within a ¼-mile radius of one of the 14 hospital facilities and 13 dialysis centers in the service area. This pilot program would fill the gap between these short-distances and provide insights on shuttle services as a solution for transportation barriers.

The COMET pilot program was selected as one of 37 projects awarded under the Federal Transit Administration's Access and Mobility Partnership Grants to pilot new and innovative mobility models in enhancing access to care. This pilot will feature the collaboration of several innovative organizations both locally and nationally to further its goal of becoming a "Mobility Agency," according to John Andoh, Executive Director & CEO of The COMET.

Feonix – Mobility Rising will be one of those collaborators, recruiting volunteer drivers who will operate the shuttles to and from bus stops.

"When you do not feel well, or you are in pain, walking a mile to the bus stop is often out of the question," said Valerie Lefler, Feonix's Executive Director. "The COMET is the most affordable transportation option and our volunteers' mission is to help those traveling to medical appointments get to the bus easier, so they are not canceling those essential medical appointments and are able to get to the doctor the most affordable way possible. We look forward to help facilitate The COMET pilot's goals."

Shuttles will be arranged regionally throughout the two-county area and hours of operation will complement The COMET's hours of service. Area residents or healthcare professionals will be able schedule and book rides via computer, phone call or a mobile application through the AARP Ride@50+℠ Program, developed by AARP Driver Safety and powered by Feonix – Mobility Rising. In addition to rides on the shuttle service, rides on the bus and to medical or other coordinated care appointments can also be booked through the platform.

Additional organizations in The COMET's pilot program planning team include the United Way of the Midlands, the Columbia VA Healthcare System, South Carolina Oncology Associates, and the Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity Inc.

About The COMET
The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 38 fixed routes, two ReFlex services, with a vanpool service, subsidy programs with Lyft and Uber, 10 bikeshare stations in Columbia and DART ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and eastern Lexington Counties. The COMET transports approximately 2.8 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of 81 buses and vans. Transit services are provided under contract with Transdev Service, Inc of Lombard, Illinois.

For additional "The COMET" information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: [email protected] or visit www.catchthecomet.org.

About Feonix – Mobility Rising
Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, Feonix is a national non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing mobility options for vulnerable and underserved individuals. Using innovative technology, education, training, and volunteer driver programs Feonix is breaking down barriers in access to healthcare, employment, education, and social services.

For more information, please visit feonixmobilityrising.org

Media Contact:
April Edwards
402-613-3117
[email protected]

SOURCE Feonix - Mobility Rising