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Citizens for Modern Transit (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Public or private transit access
└ Public or private transit access
In St. Louis, bus stops often lacked safety and accessibility, limiting mobility for older adults and residents without cars. To address this, Citizens for Modern Transit transformed a neglected stop in Soulard, where many residents are age 50-plus, into a welcoming space. The redesign added a shelter with solar lighting, benches with armrests, ADA-compliant walkways, landscaping and wayfinding. In addition, new sidewalks and ramps were added to improve access. The project boosted safety and visibility, fostered community ownership and set the stage for similar upgrades citywide. One resident said, "Adding community space where people can meet and talk comfortably will be so great."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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New Orleans, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: This project will engage local older adults to ensure their needs are considered in efforts to redesign several bus shelters across the city. The Committee seeks to make public transit accessible, safe, comfortable and climate-resilient for people of all ages.
Hutchinson, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Parents Inspired addressed a lack of reliable transportation that left many older adults struggling to reach medical care or stay socially connected. The group created an on-demand ride service that provided 364 trips, most within 25 miles, and added two donated vehicles so volunteers who preferred not to use their own cars could still drive. Riders could also request gender-specific drivers, helping meet personal comfort needs. The service supported access to routine and specialty care and laid groundwork for becoming a non-emergency medical transport provider. One rider's story showed its impact when a volunteer driver helped an older adult visit a loved one's grave, a trip that would have been difficult without support.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Miami, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults in Miami-Dade faced barriers to using public transit and on-demand ride-hailing services, limiting mobility and social engagement. Transit Alliance launched My Transit My City, hosting workshops and tech training to teach participants how to navigate the redesigned bus system and use free ride-hailing apps. Outreach included flyers, helplines and pop-up events, and older adults enrolled in the Golden Passport program for fare-free rides. One participant said, "For those who are in their latter years, something new is always a bit frightening, but once they try it... they...like it," reflecting restored confidence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: The #70 Grand bus route in Saint Louis lacked seating and shelter, forcing riders-many older adults-to perch on tree fencing or wait in rain and heat. A new sustainable bus shelter now offers seating, solar lighting and a planter box with native plants, creating a safer and more comfortable wait. The design prompted Metro to adopt similar features and drew interest in solar upgrades for future shelters. A longtime rider said he's "so happy to finally have a bus shelter" for errands, underscoring how small changes can transform daily transit for older adults.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: To showcase possible long-term upgrades to the North Hanley light rail station in Cansonville, Mo., Citizens for Modern Transit held a pop-up festival. The event prioritized community engagement, giving participants several ways to share their ideas. The St. Louis County Department of Planning invited attendees to use Lego bricks to build a model of amenities they hoped to see at the station. People recorded themselves sharing their vision for the site at a self-expression stop. Visitors could also write their ideas on a large banner. To help inspire people, the event showcased murals created by a local artist. The feedback gathered during the event informed permanent changes. Today, visitors to the site will find new seating and shade structures, as well as murals painted on the pavement. The theme for that transformation is Transit: We All Ride Together. And since 2017, Citizens for Modern Transit has gone on to improve several other transit stops in the St. Louis region.
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