Nick Mangeris is catching up with a few patrons at a grocery store in Johnstown on a chilly Friday afternoon when an alert comes over his radio, prompting him to drive off to help someone in need.

His destination is a Weld County resident’s house. But he’s not an emergency medical services worker. He’s not a firefighter. He’s not a police officer. No, Mangeris is a different kind of helper. He’s a driver for Via Mobility Services, a nonprofit organization that offers free rides to residents who are 60 years old and older or those who have disabilities so they can lead a more independent, self-sufficient life.

Founded in 1979, Via Mobility Services was created to provide caring, door-through-door transportation — meaning the driver meets the rider at their door, helps them into the van, and ensures they get to their doctor’s appointment, health clinic, grocery store, social gathering, etc. But the drivers don’t just drop their riders off at the entrance to the building, they take the time and care to guarantee the person gets to the exact room they need to be in. The drivers also wait for the duration of the visit or activity so they can take the rider home and repeat the process of ensuring they get inside their home safely.

Before August 2021, Via Mobility Services was not available to Weld County residents, but thanks to Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act funding, a pilot program was facilitated with the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in collaboration with Weld County Government. Spanning several municipalities and unincorporated parts of the county, the program sped to new heights. Feedback from older adults and those with disabilities was resoundingly positive with a desire expressed to continue this service past the original 2022 timeframe.

Based on feedback and after observing the transportation landscape in the county, the board of commissioners, North Front Range MPO, and Via Mobility Services concluded that the need for an amenity like Via Mobility Services was undeniable. And when funding finally came available through Colorado’s Multimodal Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF), the county jumped at the opportunity to apply for the funding. The MMOF distributes funds to programs dedicated to transportation accessibility and safety within each of the state’s 15 Transportation Planning Regions (TRPs). Programs like Via Mobility Services.

In August 2023, residents received their wish for the service to become available in Weld County.

Older adults and individuals with disabilities in Ault, Fort Lupton, Gilcrest, Hudson, Johnstown, Kersey, Keenesburg, LaSalle, Nunn, and Platteville have been utilizing the service since then. Johnstown and LaSalle are within the county’s North Front Range MPO TRP boundary, while the remaining municipalities are in the Upper Front Range TRP. Trips from these communities cross over into nearby counties, such as Larimer, Boulder and Adams, another perk of the service. And over the past five months, 567 trips have been completed across 7,518 miles and 71 new riders have registered for the service.

“Weld County has a lot of smaller communities with older adults who want to retire in place, meaning they don’t want to have to move to a bigger town or city to access a transit system,” said Evan Pinkham, Weld County Transportation Planner. “These smaller communities could go seek this type of funding, but smaller municipalities may have difficulty maintaining this this type of program on their own. With the county’s facilitation of funding, we’re able to bridge the transportation gap that often exists between our communities.”

The service also offers wheelchair access, and each driver is trained on how to secure every type of wheelchair in place — 12 to be exact — for the riders. Riders don’t have to travel alone, either. Their loved ones are encouraged to come along since one rider is taken care of at a time.

LaSalle resident, Nancy Tracy, never thought she would have to rely on anyone to get where she wanted to go. But after having an injury, she needed help getting to and from doctor’s appointments.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being driven by five different drivers — all cordial, all funny — who make me feel that they’re happy to be with me on my journey to whichever destination I’m going,” Tracy said. “It gives you a new perspective of ‘service,’ and I appreciate these people so much for helping me in my time of need.”

That type of feedback reflects the positives of Via Mobility Services and solidifies the county’s effort to provide a needed service to residents countywide. 

“This service is a true testament to the efficiencies we try to create in Weld County,” Pinkham said. “Without Via Mobility Services, these older adults and people with disabilities might not be able to lead an independent, social lifestyle. So, having this service to aid them in getting where they need to go in a timely manner is huge.”

Mangeris echoes Pinkham’s statement. The pride he has in helping older adults through his role at Via Mobility Services was evident in his final statement before the radio alert in Johnstown sent him to help others needing a ride: “I love that I get to help my fellow older adults,” he said. “I have come to know many of them as if they were family, and every rider is so thankful for the service. It really has made my life complete.”

In November of 2023, the Weld County Veterans Service Office moved to a new location. In just a few short months, traffic has increased immensely, and veterans are finding it easier than ever to take advantage of a variety of county services in one central location. Read more about it in the next issue of County Roots.