Transportation is something many of us don't have to think about too much. When we need to get to work, pick up a sick kid from school, go to the doctor, or shop for groceries, we get in our car and drive. Distances are far in a rural area and it takes time, but we factor that into the trip.

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But what about those who don't drive? ​ 

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For lots of people driving is not an option. It might be because age has made driving an increasingly dangerous thing to do. Or maybe a disability, even a temporary condition like a broken leg, makes driving impossible. For an increasing number of people, it is simply too expensive to own a car and keep it running and insured, especially with gas prices soaring.

 

For those who don't drive, getting around is something they have to think about all the time, especially in a rural place like Okanogan County. That's because the places people need to get to - work, school, doctor's office, grocery store, senior center - are generally clustered in the cities and towns. But most people live in the unincorporated county, where there are few alternatives to driving. It is hard to maintain a self-sufficient, independent rural lifestyle without a personal vehicle.

 

TranGO's fixed route bus service and OCTN's door-to-door demand response service meet much of the demand for travel to and from essential human services and economic opportunities, but they can't meet it all. That's why this periodic  update of the Human Services Transportation Plan is so valuable.​

 

The Human Services Transportation Plan, or HSTP for short, is focused on the ability of those who don't drive due to age, income, or disability to access the health and human services available to them. It is concerned with rural mobility and reliable travel choices that get people where they need to be, whether or not they drive.

 

The HSTP engages transportation providers - public, tribal, non-profit, and private - along with human services providers from across the region to take stock of available resources for transporting their customers and clients, assess barriers and gaps in service, and identify strategies that ensure existing services continue and wherever possible, grow services and expand access. ​ It takes coordination, collaboration, and partnerships across sectors to address the mobility needs of the most vulnerable in the region and strengthen our rural travel options. 

 

The Okanogan Council of Governments (OCOG) updates the HSTP every four years. These updates open the door for important transportation funding opportunities and help make the case for policy changes that address barriers unique to this highly rural region. OCOG is updating its Human Services Transportation Plan right now. Read on to learn more and get involved.