Community partners in caring (CPC) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 provides free volunteer-based transportation services for older adults and individuals with mild disabilities across santa…

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $375,170 under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (CFDA 20.513) to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) on September 25, 2025, for a project period extending through September 28, 2026. The award supports operating assistance for Community Partners in Caring (CPC), a volunteer-based transportation provider serving older adults and individuals with disabilities across six communities in Santa Barbara County (Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Isla Vista, Montecito, and Summerland). Primary deliverables include recruitment, training, and management of volunteer drivers who use personal vehicles to provide door-to-door transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential destinations. The award also funds the procurement and deployment of two paratransit vans meeting FTA useful life criteria through the Easy Lift Transportation program to enhance service reliability and fleet dependability.

In addition to direct service delivery, the award provides funding for SBCAG administrative oversight, project coordination, and compliance activities associated with the Section 5310 program. SBCAG staff will conduct ongoing grant management functions including program of projects development, compliance monitoring, outreach, application processing, and communication with subrecipients and Caltrans/FTA throughout the grant lifecycle. These coordinated efforts are expected to increase mobility and independence for seniors and individuals with disabilities while reducing isolation and improving timely access to essential services across the county.

Activities

CPC will recruit screen train manage monitor and coordinate drivers for its volunteer-based program. Volunteers use their personal vehicles to provide flexible door-through-door rides to medical appointments grocery stores pharmacies and other essential destinations. Funds will also be used by easy lift to purchase and deploy two paratransit vans that meet ftas 5310 vehicle useful life criteria. Sbcag staff will conduct ongoing coordination outreach application processing reporting and communication with subrecipients and caltrans/FTA. Activities include POP development compliance monitoring and support throughout the grant lifecycle.

Expected outcomes

Section 5310 funding through sbcag will support increased mobility and independence for seniors and individuals with disabilities while reducing isolation and improving access to essential services. IT will also allow for enhanced service reliability improved fleet dependability and sustained mobility for individuals with disabilities and seniors.funding for award management will also allow for timely reporting consistent communication and effective project management and oversight across all 5310-funded subrecipients.

Intended beneficiaries

This award serves older adults (age 65+) and individuals with disabilities who are unable to use public transit or afford private transporation. The 2024 sbcag transit needs assessment identified high concentrations of these populations in the south coast region where sbcag manages FTA 5310 funding. Other beneficiaries include sbcags subrecipients (easy lift and community partners in caring) who will be receiving the funds.

Subrecipient activities

Community partners in caring (CPC) will carry out project activities including client outreach volunteer driver recruitment and training trip coordination and reporting. CPC will be responsible for delivering transportation services and tracking service milestones under the terms of their agreement with sbcag.easy lift transportation will be responsible for procuring registering and integrating two replacement paratransit vans into its operational fleet. They will ensure compliance with FTA requirements maintain records for vehicle usage and condition and provide progress updates to sbcag for reporting and monitoring progress.