Community Transportation News

November 2025

If you have comments or questions about community transportation in Massachusetts, please reach out to us anytime at massmobility@dot.state.ma.us. Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce.

Welcome to the November 2025 Community Transportation Newsletter! 

With uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits and federal funding, Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance has created a helpful Frequently Asked Questions guide for those who need assistance accessing food resources. Mobility managers, transit authorities, and other community transportation providers play a key role in helping support riders to access grocery stores, food banks, and other food resources like farmer's markets. Riders looking to get information on transportation options can search Ride Match for transportation providers in their area. One regional planner in Massachusetts also created a helpful guide to food banks accessible by public transit buses. In addition, a list of food banks and other resources are also available. Working together we can help all Massachusetts community members access needed services and resources.

This past month, the Massachusetts Access and Mobility Working Group met to hear from Steve Workman from Transport NH about the system of regional mobility managers in New Hampshire. Steve discussed the development of that program, the success and challenges with implementation and the development of a statewide website Keep NH Moving. The MA Access and Mobility Working group is informing the implementation plan for a system of Regional Mobility Managers based off of the study MassDOT conducted in 2023 titled Would a System of Regional Mobility Managers Benefit Massachusetts?. 

Keep in touch,

Maria Foster, Statewide Mobility Lead  

In this issue

• New Supportive Transportation Program
• Upcoming Webinars and Training
• Funding Opportunity
• Recent Reports

New Recovery Supportive Transportation Program

GAAMHA has a new Recovery Supportive Transportation program for community members in North Central Massachusetts. The program aims to deliver free, safe, and reliable transportation to members of the Substance Use Disorder community who face transportation challenges getting to medical appointments (for both physical and mental health), community resources, and peer support. According to TJ Atkinson, the Transportation Coordinator for the program, “transportation can be a big barrier for someone who is trying to seek help.” Funded by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, the GAAMHA program currently has one full-time staff member, two part-time drivers and two vehicles. The program is in its third month and completed 22 rides in October. Participants can book a ride through an online booking app, by phone, or email. Funding for supportive transportation services was also provided to two other organizations in the area including the Brien Center in North Adams, and Hope for Holyoke in Holyoke. The organizations work together to support community members across service areas. For more information contact Alyssa's Place (a program of GAAMHA).

Two Webinars on November 12

Mobility Management Roundtable: Guidance & Tips for Rural Travel Training
On November 12th, at 11:00AM, National Rural Transit Assistance Program is hosting a discussion on designing and delivering effective travel training in rural communities. This webinar will feature tips for tailoring instruction to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and new riders, and explore creative, low-cost strategies for outreach and engagement. Register here.

CCAM-TAC: Breaking Down Barriers to Access in Rural Communities
Also on November 12, 2025 at 3:00PM, The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) are hosting a webinar to introduce CCAM-TAC's onsite technical assistance, federal fund braiding workshops, and facilitated workshops and planning sessions. Register for this webinar.  

Funding Opportunity

Upcoming Deadline for Community Transit Grant: Accessible Vehicle
Through this program, MassDOT seeks to expand mobility for older adults and people with disabilities across the Commonwealth through filling gaps in the transportation network, complementing – not duplicating – existing services, and supporting coordinated models of transportation. Applications for accessible vehicles are due November 21.

USAging Grant Opportunity
USAging’s Strengthening Social Connection in Communities (SSCC) is seeking applicants for 12-month seed grants, not exceeding $35,000 each, for up to 10 organizations within the Aging Network. Applicants can apply for grants related to program replication and expansion, or for cross-sector partnership. Applications are due December 5th at 11:59PM ET.

Recent Reports

Caring in the US 2025: Caring Across the States
As November is Family Caregiver Month, AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving have released a new report, Caring in the US 2025: Caring Across the States that features caregiving statistics of each US state. The report highlights the roles of family caregivers across the country and how place can affect the experiences of family caregivers. In Massachusetts, 26% of the population is providing caregiving to a family member or friend with complex medical conditions or disabilities. 76% of caregivers provide transportation.

In this report from April, NADTC provides a resource to help inform caregivers of the different types of supportive transportation services available: Transportation: The Missing Link in Family Caregiving Support.

NRDC Map: Who doesn’t have a car
NRDC has published a dashboard and map to begin to look at the scale and complexity of Americans who do not or cannot regularly drive. This map and dashboard is an attempt to help fill the information gap of who relies on public transportation, active transportation, and safer streets to get around without a vehicle. According to NRDC, 38.8% of people in Massachusetts do not rely on a personal vehicle for daily travel needs. 

Keep in touch!

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