INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Senior Resource Association (SRA) operating Indian River Transit has been named the 2018 Outstanding Urban System of the Year. The organization was recognized by the Community Transportation Association of America as the best urban system among thousands of other community systems across the nation.
Karen Deigl, SRA President/CEO and Chris Stephenson, Transportation Mobility Management Director accepted the award on behalf of the organization during the June 12 Community Transportation EXPO award luncheon in Pittsburgh, Pa.
“SRA has provided services and programs to promote an active, healthy and independent lifestyle for older adults in Indian River County since 1974. Providing transportation for everyone, including the transportation-disadvantaged, was an original goal of the organization. To win national recognition for meeting the community’s transportation needs is a tremendous honor for our dedicated staff,” Karen Deigl, SRA President and CEO said.
Last year, Senior Resource Association provided over 1.2 million passenger trips on GoLine and 44,000 passenger trips on Community Coach. The organization purchased its first 15-passenger van in 1975. Today, it has a fleet of 60 vehicles providing transportation throughout Indian River County. In 1990, SRA was designated the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) by the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) services.
The program, now named Community Coach, serves eligible riders with no other means of transportation. Community Coach delivers clients to medical appointments, grocery stores and other essential, non-emergency destinations.
By 1994, SRA again expanded its services by establishing the first and only fixed-route public transportation system in Indian River County. It continues to be one of only a few fixed-route public transit systems in Florida that offers complementary transportation to all riders. In order to differentiate the fixed-route service from their demand-response service and minimize the perception that their transportation services were only for the elderly, Senior Resource Association began operating its fixed-route bus system under the name of GoLine in 2007.
“We’re very responsive to the transportation needs of all residents in our community,” said Chris Stephenson, Transportation Mobility Management Director. “We understand that a loss of transportation represents a loss of independence. Our operating philosophy is to promote independence and dignity by providing safe, affordable transportation for all. Winning this year’s national Urban Transportation award and last year’s Florida Public Transportation Association’s state award are especially gratifying for our organization and the Indian River County MPO.”
GoLine operates 15 public routes throughout the county, including Fellsmere, Sebastian, Wabasso, Vero Beach, and South County at no charge to residents and visitors. GoLine and Community Coach services are provided six days a week (Monday – Saturday). For more information, contact Indian River Transit at 772-532-0396.
