The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Department of Human Services (DHS) was awarded $750,000 in grant money from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the expansion of the Find My Ride (FMR) online program.
According to a June 28 announcement by Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA), the program is a “one-stop-shop” for human services transportation access. Pennsylvania received funding through the FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program. The state was one of 17 that received millions of dollars in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
“Since taking office I have committed to expanding access to health care to ensure that Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to lead healthier lives,” said Wolf. “This grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds upon my commitment and will help some of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens get to and from their health care appointments by reducing transportation barriers they would experience otherwise.”
The FMR Apply program is designed to streamline applications for the five largest statewide transportation assistance programs that include the Senior Shared Ride program, the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP), the ADA complementary paratransit, the Persons with Disabilities program and the Free Transit program. It allows for family members, health care providers and other third parties to apply for a rider.
PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian praised the program and was thankful for the funds, saying that public transportation is something that people depend on each day across the state, and that it is available in every Pennsylvania county.
“Often, the folks who rely most heavily on the human services transportation system are the most vulnerable among us, and I’m proud that Find My Ride has made it easier than ever to access these services,” Gramian said. “We’re grateful that these funds will help us make it even better, for both the people who help administer these critical programs as well as those who rely on them.”
The funds allow for upgrades for the FMR program by allowing consumers to request fixed route and mileage reimbursement that will be directly put into a bank account; creating an interface between FM and DHS PROMISe system allowing for MATP administrators to verify eligibility easily; allowing MATP administrators to issue fixed route tickets and passes to a mobile ticketing app; and give health care providers a way to verify a visit occurred that used the system.
Since FMR Apply started in May 2021, assistance program applications have been processed for about 8,000 residents of Pennsylvania.
“DHS is committed to do everything we can to make sure people have the assistance and resources they need to be able to live safely with dignity and independence in their communities,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “The Find My Ride tool is one way we can make this possible, and we’re grateful for these funds to help support these efforts. Nobody should let a lack of transportation keep you from getting to a doctor’s appointment or filling your prescription, so I encourage anyone who might need assistance with transportation to reach out today.”
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