On may 29 2025 the MPO policy committee approved four (4) vehicles to be purchased with FY 2023 section 5310 funds

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Central Midlands Council of Governments $953,162 through the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (CFDA 20.513) on July 29, 2025, for a project period extending through March 30, 2032. The award funds the acquisition of four new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible vehicles for Babcock Center and mobility management and purchase-of-service activities through Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). These deliverables support the COMET Access to Care program, which provides door-to-door and first/last-mile transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities in Richland and Lexington Counties, connecting beneficiaries to healthcare appointments and essential services.

The project expands services developed under the FTA's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) grant program pilot and operates as part of the broader Midlands Transportation Assistance Hub, a coordinated initiative led by nonprofit and community partners. The vehicle purchases and service coordination activities address existing transportation barriers that impede access to healthcare, nutrition, employment, and educational services for vulnerable populations. All procurement activities comply with third-party contracting policies and FTA suspension and debarment requirements, and the project derives from a locally coordinated human services transportation plan meeting the Section 5310 program's 55% traditional threshold requirement.

Activities

Purchased of new ADA accessible vehicles to serve and continue to expand services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.*the comet access to care program will serve older adults and individuals with disabilities in richland and lexington counties with door to door and first and last mile transportation to healthcare related appointments. This service originated as a US DOT FTA icam (innovative coordinated access and mobility) grant program and due to the success of the pilot program cmrta is seeking to continue and expand the services. The midlands transportation assistance hub (TAH) is a coordinated transportation initiative led by feonix mobility rising in collaboration with the comet local community partners and supported federal state and regional funding sources. The project focuses on seniors and individuals with disabilities in richland and lexington counties eliminating transportation barriers that impede access to essential services such as healthcare healthy food employment and education.

Expected outcomes

Acquisition of four new ADA accessible vehicles. Transportation services include medical appointments pharmacy assistance senior centers and other trips.*the transportation assistance hub expands upon the work of the access to care program with enhanced technology and mobility management. This includes the use of mobility as a service technology to integrate multiple transportation options and expand trip purposes to include employment education and other essential services.

Intended beneficiaries

The elderly and individuals with disabilities.

Subrecipient activities

Babcock center -vehicle purchasecentral midlands regional transit authority - purchase of service