Congratulations to our 2026 Community Rides Grantees!
Funded by the Federal Transit Administration and operated in collaboration with the National Rural Technical Assistance Program (National RTAP), the Community Rides Grants focus on connecting rural and tribal communities by strengthening or developing transportation services and community partnerships that will impact upstream drivers of health.
CCAM-TAC has awarded a total of $483,109 across five projects aimed at increasing access to employment, healthcare, education, food and community programs and services.
Big Bend Transit – Tallahassee, FL
Big Bend Transit’s Community Rides project expands safe, ADA‑accessible transportation for transportation-disadvantaged residents across rural Gadsden County in the Florida Panhandle. The service provides low‑ or no‑cost, door‑to‑door trips to essential destinations including dialysis and medical care, jobs and training, groceries, and social‑service appointments. By filling gaps in evenings, weekends, and low‑density areas – and offering structured connections to Tallahassee – the project aims to reduce missed medical appointments, strengthen economic stability, and improve overall quality of life. The program integrates partner referrals, standing orders, bilingual outreach, and data‑driven scheduling to deliver reliable mobility for seniors, people with disabilities, and households with limited incomes.
Macoupin County Public Health Department – Carlinville, IL
Macoupin County Public Transportation (MCPT) is expanding rural mobility by increasing access to medical, behavioral health, and recovery appointments for residents who struggle to find reliable transportation. The project focuses on strengthening partnerships with clinics, expanding transportation services, helping Medicare recipients navigate transportation reimbursement, and increasing ridership by offering more dependable transportation options. By addressing a community‑identified barrier to care, MCPT aims to reduce missed appointments, support local health providers, and improve quality of life for rural residents who lack a consistent way to reach services.
Powder River County – Broadus, MT
Powder River County’s Community Rides project is designed to enhance the health and well-being of the community, support the success of local healthcare providers and help ease the burden on existing transportation services in one of the most remote regions in the country. Serving an aging, widely dispersed population across 3,500 rugged square miles, the program provides rides to medical care, groceries, and essential services. By pairing transportation with a Community Health Worker who offers scheduling help, wellness checks, and social‑service coordination, the project strengthens independence, reduces strain on emergency services, and ensures vulnerable residents are not left behind due to distance or mobility challenges.
Red Lodge Area Community Foundation – Red Lodge, MT
The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation responded to an identified lack of transportation that negatively impacted health and quality of life in Carbon County by creating a transportation system now known as Carbon County Area Rural Transit (CART). The Community Rides Project aims to improve the rural transit system through new technology, expanded outreach, and long‑term planning. The project introduces modern scheduling software to streamline operations, creates and distributes a “How‑to‑Ride” CART video to help seniors and new riders confidently use the service, and develops a five‑year transit plan to guide sustainable growth. With strong partnerships across six senior centers and a focus on reaching residents who are isolated, have mobility challenges and limited income, CART is building a more efficient, visible, and future‑ready transportation network for Carbon County.
Shawnee Mass Transit District – Vienna, IL
Shawnee Mass Transit District is expanding mobility across five deeply rural counties by launching Microtransit service and extending paratransit hours to accommodate evening and weekend medical appointments, second‑shift jobs, and essential errands. With ridership at an all‑time high, the project responds directly to the community’s top request: more flexible, later‑day transportation. By integrating on‑demand technology, strengthening partnerships with community partners, and improving access for residents without vehicles, Shawnee MTD aims to reduce missed healthcare visits, support employment stability, and enhance quality of life throughout southernmost Illinois.