Coshocton County Coordinated Transportation celebrating 20th anniversary
Along with their anniversary, Coshocton County Coordinated Transportation will also be celebrating Ohio Loves Transit Week Feb. 7-14. The agency will be doing several exciting things to celebrate both events, including giving away “Swag bags” with lots of items to anyone who rides the week of Feb. 7. Local celebrities may also be riding the shuttles.
According to Valerie Shaw, director of the CCCTA, the agency is Coshocton County’s public transit system. “We are committed to ensuring Coshocton residents get where they need and want to go; whether it be healthcare, employment, shopping, visitation or recreational purposes. Our main goal is to provide safe, reliable, transportation to each and every passenger.”
CCCTA offers transportation around Ohio and operates Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. “We partner with many local agencies to secure funding sources for passengers, which often requires no money out of the individual’s pocket,” said Shaw. The rates for riders who do not qualify for any funding are $4 for the general public within the city limits (includes Wal-Mart) for a one way trip. For rides to jobs and school, the rates are $2 within the city limits. The agency has half price rates for elderly and disabled.
To receive the elderly or disabled rate, riders must fill out an application and show proof of age or disability. The rates for Coshocton County are $8 per one way ticket for the general public. Rates for out of county trips are based on mileage and Shaw encourages people to call the agency for rates.
“We currently have a fleet of nine wheelchair accessible vehicles, including seven larger shuttles and two modified minivans. We also have two independent drivers who we contract with to drive their own minivans. Additionally, we partner with the local veteran’s service commission to provide transportation for veterans to VA appointments. Their volunteer driver transports clients in the locally owned DAV van,” Shaw said.
The first ODOT grant application was awarded in 2001 for coordinated transportation. In 2007, the first wheelchair lift vehicle was purchased. Before that purchase, CCCTA partnered with Residential Housing for Developmentally Disabled (RHDD) to provide all transportation for those who used wheelchairs.
“In 2008, CCCTA collaborated with the Coshocton County Board of DD to provide drivers for five shuttles that transported adult clients to Hopewell Industries and in 2013, we became a Medicaid provider,” Shaw said.
In January 2020, CCCTA was awarded an ODOT grant which allowed the agency to become a public transportation agency. “This means that CCCTA vehicles are now open to any and all passengers, regardless of income, age or any other demographic. In years past, we often saw many people who fell through the cracks, so to speak,” Shaw said. “Those who did not qualify for local social service agency funding only had the option to private pay if they needed transportation. This was a costly, per mile rate, which most people could not afford. Now, because CCCTA is a public transit, we can take anyone, anywhere within Ohio for a much lesser cost to them.”
Rides can be scheduled by calling 740-622-7139 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The agency does need a minimum of 48 business hour advance notice for any scheduled trip. Transportation is available with less notice, but is subject to availability.
“I would like to thank Coshocton County for all of the continued support for CCCTA. We would not be able to do what we do on a daily basis without the help and partnerships of so many local agencies who believe in and support CCCTA. I also want to thank the citizens of our great community for utilizing our services and supporting our mission. If you ever find yourself needing transportation, please remember to go the CCCTA way,” Shaw said.
Category: People & Places
