REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Some photos provided by Design West Architects

SERVICES MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE PARTNERS:








Related Links

RELATED LINKS

www.i-way.org

I-way is a statewide network that connects Idahoans to public and shared modes of transportation. By connecting travelers to transportation options available, I-way can help you find an accessible and efficient route to your desired destination. Through ridesharing, vanpooling, public transportation, biking and walking, all Idahoans can save money at the pump and help keep Idaho clean and beautiful.

Through local planning, coordination, and partnerships, I-way connects rural and urban communities while protecting our state’s quality of life. Learn more about I-way, and see how you can get involved.

I-way is your statewide resource to help you get from point A to point B! I-way is an initiative of the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI).

www.ctai.org

CTAI is the Community Transportation Association of Idaho—a member-driven nonprofit advocating for a safe, convenient, healthy and environmentally-friendly network of multimodal transportation options across Idaho.

  • CTAI receives federal and state grant funding to oversee several key alternative transportation programs for Idahoans.

  • CTAI leverages membership dues to provide insider networking opportunities and professional development offerings.

  • CTAI facilitates community-based transportation planning that brings together local policy-makers, advocacy groups and end users to meet specific mobility needs and improve existing mobility services.

  • CTAI advocates for the full range of transportation options to better connect rural and urban communities in Idaho.

WHO PAYS FOR MY RIDE? (WHY IS FIXED ROUTE FREE?)

SMART Transit’s purpose is to take people to the places they wish to go, whether their destination is a doctor, school, work, the grocery store, the beauty parlor, or even just to visit friends or family. It doesn’t matter where you go; the bus is here to take you there.

Why are the fixed routes free?

Well, the fixed routes are not really “free”. The rider does not pay a fare when they board the bus, this is true. However, there are costs to provide safe, reliable, convenient public transportation. Costs include fuel, bus repairs, rent, office supplies, insurance and employee wages and benefits for drivers, dispatchers and administration.

Why is the Dial-a-Ride fare only $1.50?

The fare for Dial-a-Ride has remained at $1.50 since SMART Transit began providing this service in Moscow in the mid-1990s. SMART’s mission is to provide low cost.

Who pays for the service?

The bottom line is that providing community public transportation does cost money. Someone, somewhere pays for every trip provided.

Who pays the bill? Well, grants from the federal and state government pay for a good portion, but grant funding is fickle in today’s economy.

If the rider is eligible for Medicaid, then Medicaid may also pay for a portion of the cost. However, Medicaid rides only get paid for if the ride is scheduled through the Medicaid broker AMR at 1-877-503-1261. The rest of the cost is paid by the Moscow community, mostly from the City of Moscow’s General Fund.

How does Medicaid fit in?

AMR is the State of Idaho’s broker for the Medicaid ride program and these rides must be scheduled through them. It is understandable that scheduling rides through AMR may be inconvenient with the required two day notice and all of the questions to determine eligibility. The system is designed to discourage rides that cost the tax payers money through the Medicaid program. However, doing so really helps your transportation system stay safe and on the road with the ever increasing costs to provide the service. The less Medicaid dollars that pay for rides in your local system, the more funds must come from local sources like you and your neighbors’ property tax dollars.

How does “ADA” pay for my ride?

The average cost for Moscow Valley Transit to provide a one-way ride within Moscow for the month of February 2012 was $15.95. The pie charts illustrate how each ride provided in the Moscow community’s Dial-A-Ride transportation is funded:

Moscow Valley Transit’s goal is to provide a comparable service to Dial-A-Ride customers that the riders receive when riding the fixed route buses around town. This means we want to keep the cost to customers low or no cost.

In order to leave no stone unturned, we are encouraging everyone who is eligible for Medicaid funding for all or some of their rides to take advantage of this funding. If any rider is eligible for Medicaid funded rides, it is important to schedule those eligible rides through the state Medicaid broker, AMR. This allows Moscow Valley Transit to recover over a quarter of the cost to provide that ride. In February our average cost per ride was $15.95. The average reimbursement that Medicaid pays is $4.20 each way; some longer rides pay an additional $1.17. So for a Medicaid eligible appointment, compensation would be at least $8.40 for a round trip that costs Moscow Valley Transit $31.90 to provide.

  • If you are Medicaid eligible and not scheduling your rides through AMR, please help us out and do so. The telephone number for AMR is 1-877-503-1261.

  • If you don’t believe that you are eligible, please make sure.

  • If you are not Medicaid eligible, we wish to thank you for your support of our program. Please continue to call us at 883-7747 for scheduling. We are doing all we can to keep the Moscow community’s costs down.

If you wish to make a charitable contribution to help fund your local transportation options, Moscow Valley Transit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and would be happy to accept your kind donation. Please mail it to:

Regional Public Transportation, Inc.

Dba Valley Transit

PO Box 1102

Lewiston, ID 83501

Thank you in advance. Every little bit helps.