For the first time, anyone needing a ride between Hamilton and Hancock counties has access to public transportation with a single call for a flat fee.
The new program – One-Call Connect – was developed by the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) and Hamilton County Express, RIDE Hancock.
Because of the way public transportation funding works, transit providers typically cannot cross county lines. As a result, transit users have to find other transportation when traveling from one county to another.
Working in collaboration, One-Call Connect partners have arranged for a connection point in McCordsville where passengers can easily transfer from one county’s service to the other’s.
“People don’t think about crossing county lines. They just want to get where they need to go,” said Jennifer Gebhard, executive director of CIRTA. “One-Call Connect will create a more streamlined user experience for people in Hamilton and Hancock counties. We see this as a pilot program that will provide data on ride demand, as well as opportunities for future cost efficiencies throughout the region.”
One-Call Connect is open to everyone in Hamilton or Hancock counties, and trips can be for any purpose – medical appointments, shopping, visiting family, etc. The cost to ride is $8 cash each direction, paid to the drivers at pick up. A round trip costs $16, which is significantly less than the cost of comparable trips using commercial transportation services.
Trips must start in one county (Hamilton or Hancock) and end in the other (Hamilton or Hancock). All vehicles are ADA accessible. Riders will transfer from one vehicle to another at Leo’s Market and Eatery, 8956 N. 600 West, McCordsville. Drivers will stay with riders until the next vehicle arrives and assist riders with the transfer if needed.
Trips within one county are handled by Hamilton County Express or RIDE Hancock.
TO BOOK A ONE-CALL CONNECT TRIP
- Call CIRTA at 317-327-7433 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Trips must take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Trips must be booked 48 hours in advance but not more than 2 weeks ahead.
Hamilton County Express, a service of Janus Developmental Services, provides reservation-based transportation for the general public in Hamilton County.
RIDE Hancock, a service of Hancock County Senior Services, provides reservation-based transportation for the general public in Hamilton County.
The Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) enhances transportation connectivity to the benefit of residents and businesses across the 10-county region.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
CIRTA Jen Schmits Thomas, JTPR, jen@jtprinc.com, 317-441-2487
Hamilton County Express Ben Platz, Senior Transportation Manager, JANUS, bplatz@janus-inc.org, 317-773-2688
RIDE Hancock Suzanne Derengowski, Executive Director, Hancock County Senior Services, suzanned@hcssi.org, 317-462-3758