In 2010, Tri-CAP’s Transportation Resource Center, along with 7 central Minnesota partners, provided over 35,000 rides, drove over 638,000 miles and donated over 28,500 hours of service for seniors and people with disabilities. These rides were to medical appointments, cancer treatments, dialysis, mental health facilities, dental offices, food shelves, grocery stores and senior dining sites. In three years this program has provided nearly 90,000 rides!!
The Transportation Resource Center (TRC) is your local, one call resource for transportation needs in Central Minnesota. Any resident of Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties is eligible to contact the TRC for more information regarding their transportation needs. They can also go online to www.tricap.org/TRC to find detailed information including phone numbers and links to various transportation resources in central Minnesota.
Through the New Freedom grant, funded by the United We Ride legislation, funds are available for groups to hire Mobility Managers and collaborate with other local providers to assist Seniors and People with Disabilities. The TRC and partners chose to concentrate on providing medical transportation and as of July 2010 began providing rides to nutritional based services such as food shelves, senior dining sites, and grocery shopping. Eligible individuals cannot be receiving Medical Assistance or have insurance that would otherwise pay for their medical transportation. These rides are given at no charge, but a donation is requested. If a rider is unable to make a donation, it will not affect their ability to receive further transportation in the future. Along with the 5 county service area, eligible riders are able to go to appointments in the Twin Cities, Rochester, Alexandria, Willmar, Brainerd, New London, Spicer and Princeton.
For more information please contact Shannon at the TRC at 320-257-4456.
