Transportation

There are two programs that provide transportation to our clientele.

The first one is the Demand Response Program offered through the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA).Tthe second one is the Senior Center Volunteer Transportation Program. This page describes both programs including any applicable limitations. For additional information about Transportation, please contact Robert Szafran, the Center’s Transportation Coordinator, at (413) 625-2502.

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(1) Demand Response Program (FRTA)

The Senior Center provides curb-to-curb van transportation for seniors 60+ by contract with FRTA, covering the following nine towns: Ashfield, Buckland, Colrain, Charlemont, Conway, Hawley, Rowe, Heath and Shelburne. Rides are provided within Franklin County except for a monthly shopping trip on the third Friday of each month to the WalMart in Hadley (and approved trips to Northampton.) Rides are prioritized as follows: non-emergency medical appointments; grocery shopping and other shopping; meals; then social trips. More information is available below, but you can also call the Senior Center at 625-2502 to make an appointment at least 48 business hours in advance or for information about reservations and fares.

Rides are booked on a “first come first served” basis for:

• non-emergency medical appointments. Please note, we are not able to provide rides for medical treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, and multiple physical or cardiac therapy appointments;

• shopping trips (please check the monthly calendar for the regularly-scheduled shopping trips) which include trips to the Greenfield Big Y and the Walmart in Hadley on specific days for residents of served towns, and to additional Greenfield locations such as CVS and Greenfield's Market one day per month. Specific questions can be answered by calling the Senior Center at 625-2502; and

• rides to the Senior Center for special activities, meals, and/or group social activities.

Ride Fares:

• Riders pay a portion of the costs through fares

• Pre-approved clients of LifePath (formerly FCHCC) ride free (limits apply)

• Trips that originate and end within the same towns are $1.25 each way. Trips to the Senior Center are $.75 each way.

• All trips to adjacent towns within the Franklin County service area are $1.75 each way. Trips to the Senior Center are $1.00 each way.

• All trips beyond an adjacent town that are within service area are $2.25 each way. Trips to the Senior Center are $1.25 each way.

• Big Y shopping trips are free.

• Personal Care Attendants (PCA) traveling with rider pay $.75 each way.

Accessibility: Vans are lift equipped for walkers and wheelchairs. Service is curb to curb. If a rider needs assistance getting between home and the van or from the van into a medical facility or shopping center, a Personal Care Attendant is required to accompany the rider and should be included during the ride request.

Application: There is a short application to be completed to become an approved rider. A copy of a photo ID needs to be submitted with the application. Normally, riders can be approved within a week. Applications are available at the Senior Center or directly from FRTA or can be downloaded from the above link and sent by mail. For more information, please contact the administrator of FRTA: Tina Cote 774-2262 / Ext. 104, or the assistant administrator: Michael Perrault 774-2262 / Ext. 105.

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(2) Senior Center Volunteer Rides on PAUSE due to COVID-19

The Volunteer Transportation Program is also a program of the Senior Center and is available to the Consortium towns served by the Senior Center: Ashfield, Buckland, and Shelburne. Volunteers provide medical rides, rides for shopping/errands, visits to nursing homes, and social trips. Volunteer drivers provide door-to-door transportation using their own vehicles, and are offered reimbursement of $.50 per mile. We try to use the FRTA van service first, and then call a volunteer if a van is not available or if the ride is not within the scope of our FRTA contract. There is no fee for this program. Donations toward the program help us offset the mileage reimbursement paid to the driver.

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Other Local Transportation Services

FRTA also arranges rides to out-of-county medical appointments, called the MedRide Program. For information about this service and to make a reservation call FRTA at 774-2262 ext. 163. There is also a fixed route (Bus Route 41) between Charlemont and Greenfield with stops in Buckland and Shelburne (on Main Street at Greenfield Savings Bank.) You may use the 774-2262 ext. 163 for more information about this route as well.