The purpose of the subrecipient mobility management program is to coordinate activities in the rural areas surrounding the FOX cities and other neighboring counties

The City of Appleton received a formula grant award of $418,116 from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (CFDA 20.513), effective September 15, 2025, through June 30, 2028. This award supports transportation coordination and mobility management services serving seniors and individuals with disabilities in the Fox Cities region and surrounding rural areas of Outagamie County, Wisconsin. Key deliverables include coordination activities through a subrecipient mobility manager who participates in local transportation coordination meetings and provides community transportation education via presentations, written articles, and one-to-one contacts. The funding also supports the "Making the Ride Happen" call center, which maintains a comprehensive database of available transportation options and uses volunteer drivers to provide rides to underserved populations, including individuals traveling across county lines or unable to access established transportation services.

Additionally, the award supports Valley Transit's shared-ride demand-responsive service for elderly and disabled passengers in non-urbanized areas, providing transportation to medical appointments, shopping, job sites, and other essential destinations. Through these integrated mobility management and volunteer driver programs, the City of Appleton coordinates regional transportation solutions that supplement insufficient or unavailable public transit options, enhancing transportation access and quality of life for vulnerable populations throughout the Fox Cities Transportation Management Area.

Activities

The LLS (subrecipient) mobility manager will participate in local transportation coordination meetings. This mobility manager will also provide transportation education to the community through presentations written articles and one-to-one contacts. The making the ride happen program maintains a call center that keeps a comprehensive database of transportation options available in the FOX cities transportation management area. The database is used to recommend an array of services available to callers. When there are limited options available the volunteer driver program can be utilized. Making the ride happen uses volunteer drivers to provide rides to people who live in rural areas are traveling across county lines or are not able to use other established transportation services in the area.valley transit will provide a shared ride demand responsive origin to destination transportation for the elderly and disabled in rural outagamie county.valley transits mobility manager represents valley transit by speaking with or on behalf of individuals with disabilities to ensure equitable transportation for all. This is done through education marketing and building relationships within the community such as businesses non-profits human services agencies healthcare institutions schools etc. To help their riders meet their transportation needs. The mobility manager works with individuals to identify and eliminate barriers to transportation.

Expected outcomes

Increased coordination between agencies and travelers along with improved access to transportation options for the individual rider. Increased services and capacity available to seniors and individuals with disabilities for transportation options.

Intended beneficiaries

The primary focus of this program is the elderly population and people with disabilities.

Subrecipient activities

On-going mobility management program and a volunteer driver program.