Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES— MO RIDES – Meramec, a transportation referral service administered by Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), is kicking off its Mobility Voucher Program (MVP) beginning March 1. The program provides a $10 voucher to assist individuals, who meet eligibility criteria, with paying for ride fares. For example if a ride fare is $15, the voucher will cover $10 and the rider is responsible for the remaining $5.

Through MRPC, MO RIDES – Meramec coordinates efforts with existing transportation providers to find affordable transportation for people who need a ride to work, medical appointments, shopping, church or anywhere they wish to go. The referral service is at no cost to the rider, however riders must pay for the cost of the ride.

To receive a transportation voucher from MVP, participants must reside within MO RIDES eight-county service area – Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington. They must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a member of a low-income household (individual income of less than 200% of the poverty level), or
• Have a verified disability, or
• Be age 65 or older

AND

• Agree to participate in the program evaluation assessment process, and
• Abide by the MVP rules.

There is a limit of two vouchers per rider for the life of the program. An adult must accompany riders under the age of 18.

“Access to transportation is crucial to residents in our rural areas, so being able to link a provider to someone needing a ride is key, however, there are times when that rider simply cannot afford the ride – and they still need to go to the doctor,” MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge said. “The voucher program will help address that issue.”

The voucher program is funded through donations, which are matched through a MoDOT transit grant up to $25,000. MO RIDES is currently seeking donations or funding opportunities for the remainder of the MoDOT match funds.

“Our funds are very limited at this time, and we are hopeful more organizations will donate to the cause so we can leverage our full grant,” Prigge said.

For more information on MO RIDES, finding a ride or how to donate to the voucher program, contact Samantha Maddison at 573-265-2993 Ext. 113 or via email at smaddison@meramecregion.org. You can also visit www.morides.org for more information or to find information on rides outside the eight county service area.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.orgor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.