Union County seeks transit applications for seniors, disabled residents

Union County was opening a new funding round that could shape how seniors and people with disabilities get around the county for years to come. The county’s April 10 notice said as much as $339,497 may be available to Union County providers for the period from October 1, 2027, through September 30, 2029, with applications due by 4 p.m. April 24.

The money is tied to the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310 program for enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities. In practical terms, that means local agencies and nonprofits that provide public transportation can seek support for vehicle acquisitions, facilities construction or rehabilitation, equipment and other capital assets, mobility management, purchased transportation services and preventive maintenance.

That list matters in a rural county where a broken-down van or a thin service schedule can mean a missed doctor visit, a canceled grocery run or a ride that never comes. The county’s transit planning materials describe “Rides to Wellness” as essential door-to-door transportation for residents who lack other means of accessing medical care, a reminder that this funding can support much more than bus service on a fixed route. It can help keep vehicles in service, improve reliability and widen access to medical appointments, shopping and social services.

The grant process is not open-ended. Oregon Department of Transportation guidance for the 2027-2029 Section 5310 cycle says eligible projects must come from a locally developed and adopted Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan. Federal transit law requires the same basic framework, with participation from seniors, people with disabilities, transportation providers and other members of the public. Union County and Wallowa County prepared such a plan in December 2022 with input from local and regional stakeholders and transit users.

Union County’s transit network already has a major player in place. Its planning documents identify Northeast Oregon Public Transportation, operated by Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc., as the largest transit agency serving Union and Wallowa counties. The current notice could affect that system and other providers that are positioned to add vehicles, maintain service or expand specialized rides.

The new funding round also appears larger than the county’s earlier Section 5310 allocation. A previous notice for the 2023-2025 biennium said $179,384 had been allocated for Union County and required a 10.27% local cash match. The current opportunity is a chance for providers to plan ahead now for a bigger pot of money later.

Questions about the notice can be directed to the Union County Administrative Office at 541-963-1001. For local providers, the next two weeks will decide whether they are in position to secure funding that could keep riders moving when standard transit is not enough.