The Flint Mass Transportation Authority (Flint MTA) was named the 2019 Outstanding Urban System of the Year by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) at its annual EXPO. The EXPO was held
this year in Palm Springs, Calif., and the award is in recognition for the winner’s efforts to cultivate local support for its innovative and responsive mobility options.
The award, presented annually at the Association’s national EXPO, honors a CTAA member in an urban area that has distinguished itself both in the level of service it provides and innovative ways of doing business. Dan Wedge, Secretary of the Association’s Board of Directors and Executive Director of Allegan County Transportation in Allegan, Mich., noted that Flint MTA has created a national model for non-emergency medical transportation service in urban areas through its Rides to Wellness program. Partnering directly with healthcare providers in its region, the program connects patients with on-demand service to reach appointments, growing from a couple dozen daily riders in September 2016 to now more than 1,000 each day. “
Rides to Wellness compliments the agency’s 13 fixed routes, regional demand-response and paratransit services and other specialized programs serving seniors, foster parents, people with disabilities, veterans and low-income workers, reinforcing the system’s commitment to mobilizing its communities through innovative, responsive options tailored to specific needs,” said Wedge in presenting the award.
“We are very honored to receive this award from the Community Transportation Association of America,” said Ed Benning, General Manager and CEO at Flint MTA. “Over the past several years, we’ve expanded services to provide a better on-demand service model for all those living in our community. It’s with great pleasure that we are able to receive this award today.”
The Community Transportation Association, established in 1989, is a national non-profit, membership association committed to removing barriers to isolation and improving mobility for all people. The Association provides informational resources, technical assistance, training and certification, and many additional resources to communities, transportation providers, and other groups to increase mobility and improve the quality of community and public transportation.
The Flint Mass Transportation Authority was founded in 1971 and is based in Flint, Michigan. Flint MTA provides public transportation services across six counties, also operating a number of specialized services. Rides to Wellness is a comprehensive non-emergency medical transportation program that provides mobility management, door-to-door service, and same day service to riders going to medical or other health and wellness-related appointments. Using cutting-edge technology and a ride-hailing-like model, Rides to Wellness is provided through service agreements with local agencies and medical providers.