Coordinated Transportation...

The Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center (CGRDC) currently administers transportation programs to meet the mobility needs of eligible human services consumers throughout the coastal Georgia region.  Partnering with the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), the CGRDC also helps individuals in need of medical transportation to (primarily) dialysis in Glynn and McIntosh Counties.

 Programs currently in operation, or soon to be available, in the coastal region include:

• DHR Coordinated Transportation

• United Way Medical Transportation (Glynn & McIntosh Counties only)

• Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation (available in the coming months)

• Regional Vanpool Program (available in the coming months)

 DHR Coordinated Transportation

The CGRDC contracts with the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) to provide administrative oversight to the DHR Coordinated Transportation program.  This oversight ensures that timely and appropriate services are provided to eligible DHR consumers.

DHR Coordinated Transportation is restricted due to funding limitations; as a result, service provision is based on eligibility criteria.  “Eligible” DHR consumers include aging consumers as identified through the Area Agency on Aging (AAA); recipients of the Georgia Department of Family & Children Services’ Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program; and mental health consumers that participate in Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD) programs. 

The CGRDC does not provide direct services; and therefore, subcontracts with various providers across the coastal region for the provision of transportation assistance.

United Way Medical Transportation—Glynn & McIntosh Counties

The CGRDC contracts with the United Way of Coastal Georgia to provide medical transportation for consumers in Glynn and McIntosh Counties.

This program is funded with local United Way contributions.  Services are provided for medical trips only (primarily, for dialysis and some doctor’s appointments).  Please note, United Way transportation services are limited to those in the greatest need. 

Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program (available in coming months)

The Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program is the third pilot project initiated by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). 

This initiative is designed to develop a demand-response, advance reservation program that will coordinate human service and rural, public transportation needs simultaneously.   The ultimate goal of this program is to provide a seamless, coordinated system that offers rural, public transportation to anyone, for any purpose, to any destination within the coastal region without funding limitations or eligibility criteria. 

Consolidating funding and resources from two state agencies—the DHR Coordinated Transportation program and the GDOT Section 5311 (rural public) program—the Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program will provide cost effective and efficient service for all of coastal Georgia.

The projected implementation date for start-up of the Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program is November 2008.  (The original start-up date was planned for July 2008; however, funding issues necessitated pushing the date back to November.)

Regional Vanpool Program
(available in coming months)

During the design of the Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program, a significant need was identified for commuter transportation to and from rural, outlying areas to work.  Due to this need, the Regional Vanpool Program was created as a component of the Regional Rural & Coordinated Public Transportation Program.

The Regional Vanpool Program is specifically designed for the labor force for work-related commutes.  The program provides a convenient, reliable, and low-cost means of transportation for employees traveling to and from work. 

Employees will experience benefits of the Regional Vanpool Program by reducing fuel and insurance costs, as well as maintenance of personal vehicles for work-related commutes. 

In addition, the program provides the following benefits for employers:

• A consistent, reliable workforce for business and industry;

• A larger labor pool from which to hire employees; and

• Tax incentives for employers that contribute financially to the vanpool program for their employees.

The Regional Vanpool Program will provide great economic gain for the coastal region at large.  By attracting business and industry to the region, the program will contribute to coastal Georgia’s economic growth potential.  Additionally, the direct reduction of the number of vehicles on the roads as a result of vanpooling will reduce the wear and tear of roads and bridges—ultimately, saving tax dollars. 

A Call for Proposals has been issued for a vanpool provider to operate the regional program; and applications for state and federal funding to help support the program have been submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation.  The CGRDC expects to receive funding notification within the next few weeks, with implementation of the Regional Vanpool Program to begin immediately thereafter. 

Additional information about any of these programs is available by contacting Barbara Hurst, Coordinated Transportation Manager, at (912) 262-2830; or via email at bfhurst@coastalgeorgiardc.org.