The Toolkit for Operating a Rural Transportation Voucher Program provides a model for how to bring together community members and resources to develop and operate a transportation system for people with disabilities in rural areas. Transportation vouchers could be set up for riders to use for employment, non-emergency medical, daily living chores, and social activities.
Toolkit Contents
- Toolkit for Operating a Rural Transportation Voucher Program (PDF; not screen-reader friendly)
- TEXT ONLY Toolkit for Operating a Rural Transportation Voucher Program (PDF text-only version, screen-reader friendly)
- Transportation Funding Information (accessible PDF)
- Transportation Resources (accessible PDF)
- Traveler’s Cheque Workbook (Excel file)
Details
In this model, eligible riders receive a voucher checkbook with an allocation of miles from a sponsoring agency. The agency negotiates with public and private transportation providers to accept the voucher checks as payment for rides, and can help riders organize potential volunteer drivers. Community members may volunteer to become drivers, and will be reimbursed up to the federal maximum rate for mileage reimbursement. In addition, other agencies that provide transportation, such as a council on aging or a developmental disability provider, can also be part of the voucher system.
By providing people with disabilities voucher checks to organize their own transportation needs, the model emphasizes the Independent Living philosophy of personal responsibility and control and opens opportunity for them to make choices about where they work and live. The voucher model also emphasizes utilizing existing community resources and promotes cost sharing among service agencies, consumers, and transit providers.
The toolkit covers in detail the elements of operating a transportation voucher program, including: how to develop partnerships and contract with transportation providers, how to identify funding, how to develop policies, program management, and other special considerations.
Technical Assistance
Individualized training and technical assistance regarding this product are available for a fee from staff at APRIL. Please contact APRIL Executive Director Billy Altom (bwaltom@sbcglobal.net) for more information.