By Stan Matthews
San Juan County Website and Communications Program Manager
San Juan County is introducing a new Transportation Voucher Program to provide transportation assistance to island residents who meet senior, veteran, low-income or disabled eligibility requirements.
The program is seeking both eligible residents to participate, as well as businesses and/or individuals to provide transportation services. The Transportation Voucher Program is a part of the new San Juan County Community Transportation Program, a state grant funded effort to raise public awareness around existing transportation options, provide better accessibility to our most transportation-vulnerable residents, and begin to define the San Juan County transportation system of the future.
The Transportation Voucher Program is now ramping up, and residents are invited to check the eligibility requirements and apply via the San Juan County Community Transportation webpages (www.sanjuanco.com/publictransport ), by contacting a senior coordinator or family resource representative, or by contacting Christopher Aiken phone: 360-370-7512, or email: christophera@sanjuanco.com.
Considerations for Residents:
· Must be 60+ or older, or United States military veteran, or disabled status, or low-income (made less than $25K last year)
· Must be San Juan County resident
The Transportation Voucher Program is looking to partner with providers of transportation services, within San Juan County, to provide services to citizens eligible for this program. The program will consider partnering with transportation providers of all types; from taxi companies to bike shops, and from personal drivers to auto repair shops. “We’re trying to establish a broad palette of transportation options to best fit the diverse needs of our community members who are vulnerable to gaps in our transportation system,” said program coordinator Christopher Aiken.
Aiken said that providers:
· Must be able/willing to wait two weeks for financial reimbursement
· Must be willing to apply, have a conversation, and potentially sign a minimum contract
Individuals or companies wanting more information about becoming a provider of transportation services under the Transportation Voucher Program, should visit Community Transportation webpages (www.sanjuanco.com/publictransport), or contact Christopher Aiken at phone: 360-370-7512, or email: christophera@sanjuanco.com.
