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Orange County Department on Aging (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Public or private transit access
└ Public or private transit access
Many bus stops in rural Orange County lacked shelters or a place to sit. To address this, the Orange County Department on Aging worked with the county's public transportation department to install new seats at 15 bus stops. Designed to maximize space at stops without enough room for a transit shelter, the seats accommodate two people and are attached to the bus stop sign. Project organizers say the seats increase accessibility in rural parts of the county, where no bus stop sign was in place. Following installation of the seats, the public transportation department committed to building permanent bus shelters in high-traffic, rural areas.
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Willmar, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: This project distributed transit tokens to older adults and people with disabilities in residential facilities. Childcare providers received transit passes allowing them to take children in their care to such facilities, promoting intergenerational contact. Additionally, Mid-Minnesota Development Commission purchased two electric trishaws to expand micro-mobility options at residential care facilities.
Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: To build people's knowledge about public transportation, this project created a series of educational videos. The videos teach residents how to use the transit system -- including local fixed-route bus service. Organizers then used the video content in a series of transit workshops.
Bainbridge Island, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: This pilot project aims to help older adults travel events at the local senior center, as well as shopping trips, medical appointments and cultural activities. Over a 12-week period, the senior center worked with volunteer and contracted drivers to provide transportation on weekdays. The center deployed its passenger bus, as well as a transit van and personal vehicles, to provide on-demand rides. Organizers say lessons learned during the pilot will inform plans for a permanent transportation program.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Entrepreneurship and improved economic resilience
Description: This project created a toolkit to grow local tourism along the Main-to-Main Trail. The trail winds across North Carolina, connecting more than 60 Main Street communities to showcase public art and murals, local food and cultural history and experiences. North Carolina Main Street hoped to build capacity among participating communities, helping them identify their assets and create an economic development strategy. To do this, they created a template for a tourism itinerary, which visitors can follow to find local attractions. They also developed a playbook for affective social media marketing. Since publishing the toolkit, the Rural Planning center has provided guidance on photography, videography and destination writing. Additionally, they are helping local small businessowners to better serve tourists.
Chapel Hill, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: This project will install pedestrian safety islands with garden beds, LED lighting and signs on streets in Chapel Hill, to make them safer for pedestrians, particularly those who are older adults.
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