BRIDGEWATER — Town Manager Michael Dutton and Elder Affairs Director Emily Williams are pleased to announce that the Bridgewater Council on Aging has received a $40,000 grant to assist with transportation needs for community members.
The COA will use the funding to contract with A&A Metro Transportation. Transportation services will include non-emergency medical transportation and transportation to grocery stores and pharmacies for seniors. Transportation to grocery stores and off-campus educational opportunities will also be offered for Bridgewater State University students and essential workers.
Additionally, the grant will help to facilitate last-mile transportation to the MBTA commuter rail station, deliveries of food to food-insecure households, and deliveries of food and medicine to individuals who are quarantining, at-risk or COVID-19 positive.
“With this funding, we will be able to supplement and expand our current transportation services to help those in our community get to appointments, the grocery store and other activities, as well as facilitate deliveries for those who do not feel safe outside of their homes,” Williams said. “We are very appreciative to MassDevelopment and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for this funding, and are looking forward to partnering with A&A Metro Transportation to provide these services.”
MassDevelopment on Thursday announced grants totaling $2.5 million awarded to 47 communities, agencies, regional transit authorities, non-for-profits and human service providers through the Taxi, Livery, and Hackney Transportation Partnerships Grant Program.
Grants will help communities supplement existing transportation options, create new programs to transport individuals to work, grocery stores, non-emergency medical appointments and other destinations, and facilitate delivery of essential supplies such as food and medicine to residents in need. Grants will be administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
“The Baker-Polito Administration commends MassDevelopment and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for utilizing the state’s Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund to help communities augment local transit with taxi and livery services to get residents where they need to go,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “These awards will provide a boost to an industry in need while filling gaps in the state’s transportation network.”
###