MORGANTOWN — Mountain Line Transit Authority’s efforts to fill the void left by the closure of nonprofit In Touch and Concerned began on Wednesday.
Mountain Line Director Dave Bruffy addressed the Monongalia County Commission regarding those efforts. He was joined by Mountain Line Mobility Coordinator Kelli LaNeve and Janette Lewis, with the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.
ITAC was a nonprofit entity that provided non-emergency medical transportation, as well as transport for individuals dealing with mobility issues. Facing mounting financial issues, the agency closed its doors in August, leaving many in the community with only ambulance services as a fallback.
Bruffy said Mountain Line has a vehicle and a driver in place and about $150,000 to fund the effort for one year — $72,000 of which came by way of a check from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, which will be used to match federal funds.
“There’s no question our biggest concern long term is to find that continuing funding so we can keep it going after this first year,” Bruffy said. “We don’t want to end up in the same place a year from now.”
He said the $150,000 is about a quarter of what it would take to replicate the door-to-door service of ITAC. In an effort to stretch available funds, LaNeve is working with clients and healthcare providers to group appointments in order to increase efficiency.
Bruffy said Mountain Line will apply to the United Way for future funding and should be eligible for about $80,000 in annual funding through the state’s division of public transit.
Commission President Tom Bloom has represented the commission in the effort to aid those left stranded by ITAC’s closure.
“I can’t say enough about Kelli and Janette and also Dave, who we put on the spot, really because we had no one else to go to,” Bloom said. “You came through. I think the community needs to understand that Mountain Line came through.”
Clients can book tickets via a smartphone application — Token Transit — available for download through Apple and Google Play.
Additionally, clients can sign up, request appointments or purchase passes through Mountain Line’s website at busride.org/NewFIT or contact LaNeve at 304-296-3680.
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