From the Beginning...

Transport Central (TC) started as a discussion among community members decrying the inability of transportation-challenged individuals to get to hospital appointments. From these simple beginnings and many many discussions came today’s TC. In 2006 TC was incorporated. Its members continued to hold discussions on the issues surrounding various aspects of local transportation in an area that had no public transportation. The following year, 2007, tax-exempt status (501c3) was obtained from the IRS.

In 2008 TC organized a daylong Grafton County Transportation Summit at PSU with over 140 participants including state and human service agencies, community officials and individuals. The summit was also shown on local TV. During 2009 and 2010 TC received a US FTA/NH DOT transportation planning grant in conjunction with North Country Council. The planning study, performed by the nationally known transportation consultants Nelson\Nygaard, included a survey sent to 14000 households, and resulted in a 120-page report presented to 175 community residents at Plymouth Regional Senior Center as well as on local TV. The report was incorporated as part of the North Country Council’s Coordination Plan.

The study contained many findings and suggestions, but the most immediate one was that TC apply for a 5317 grant to hire a Mobility Manager and a 5310 grant to support volunteer drivers transporting elderly and disabled individuals to medical appointments and other necessities. While obtaining the 5317 grant, TC obtained letters of support from area towns, local and regional human service agencies, and the three regional planning commissions whose catchment areas are part of TC’s target area.

In FY 2012 TC received a US FTA/NH DOT 5317 grant to hire a Mobility Manager, and during the same year a US FTA/NH DOT 5310 grant to support volunteer drivers was obtained. Similar grants were obtained in FY 2013 and in all subsequent years.

The 5317 grant, now called a 5310 Formula Funds (FF) grant, pays for administrative expenses and the 5310 Purchase of Service (POS) grant provides a certain amount of reimbursement at the federal level for the volunteer drivers, based on the number of miles they drive eligible passengers. 5310 POS passengers are limited to those who have no means of transporting themselves and no other transportation insurance, such as Medicaid. Grants and donations provide additional support for TC.

The Plymouth Youth Center was kind enough to provide TC with part-time office space when rides started being provided in July 2012. In 2014 TC moved to Whole Village, where Granite United Way generously provides ample office space as well as access to other human service providers. TC continues to be very grateful to Whole Village and Granite United Way!