TAIV receives funding to support transportation services

WISCONSIN – A Tomahawk organization is among the recipients of funding aimed at supporting specialized transportation services for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) last week announced more than $6.3 million in funding to 58 agencies across the state through the Specialized Transit Program to improve local transportation services.

A release from Evers’ office said the joint federal and state program provides grants to help with specialized transportation services, such as mobility management, operating assistance and vehicle purchases.

The Approved Specialized Transit Program is administered by WisDOT via the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program.

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, starting in 2023, WisDOT was provided with additional federal funds to support five years of administering the 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program to communities across the state, according to the release.

“Approved Specialized Transit Program projects for 2025 include funding for 15 mobility management initiatives to help coordinate transportation services, increase capacity and connect individuals with transportation services in their geographic area,” the release stated. “An additional 23 operating assistance grants will be funded to help organizations defray day-to-day costs of operating these programs.”

Many of the grant recipients serve smaller communities in rural areas, the release noted.

The Tomahawk Area Interfaith Volunteers (TAIV) are among this year’s funding recipients. TAIV, which among numerous community efforts provides transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities in Lincoln, Marathon and Oneida counties, was awarded $27,785.00 for mobility management, with a $6,946.00 match, as well as $17,907.00 for its Volunteer Driver Program, with a $17,907.00 match.

“According to the U.S. Department of Transportation 2022 National Household Travel Survey, 18.6 million Americans aged five and older report having travel-limiting disabilities,” the release said “Compared to those reporting no disabilities, those with travel-limiting disabilities were reported to be less likely to travel, be employed or live in a household with a vehicle. The report further states that individuals with travel-limiting disabilities often took fewer trips, citing health problems as the top-most reason for taking fewer trips, and lived in lower-income households. These individuals were reported to compensate for their disabilities by asking others for rides, limiting travel to daytime and using rideshare and other special transportation services.”

Under federal transportation law, the cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton and Green Bay administer the federal 5310 program for their geographic areas, according to WisDOT. The cities coordinate with WisDOT to ensure continuity of the application and project selection process. WisDOT continues to administer the 5310 Program for the rural and smaller urban areas of the state.

“We are committed to building a safe and efficient transportation system that serves everyone,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “This combination of federal and state funding will allow local agencies to broaden their reach, offer basic mobility services and give more people access to community services.”

“We must continue our work to make sure Wisconsinites across our state can get from Point A to Point B safely, no matter where they live in Wisconsin,” Evers stated. “Access to transportation is a key part of connecting the dots to make sure folks can get to where they need to go, whether it’s work, medical appointments or the grocery store, or accessing the critical services they need. These investments will continue building upon our work to make sure Wisconsin’s infrastructure can meet the demands of the 21st century.”