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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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Lumberton, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Southeastern Life Center focused on a persistent barrier facing many residents: the lack of reliable, affordable transportation to reach everyday needs. For older adults with mobility challenges or fixed incomes, missed rides often meant missed medical appointments, limited access to food and fewer chances to stay socially connected. The project expanded door to door transportation and related support services, helping participants reach health care visits, grocery stores and community activities. Outreach and engagement efforts ensured the services reached people most affected by isolation and limited mobility. As a result, older adults reported improved access to essential resources and stronger social connections, supporting greater independence. By integrating these services into its core programs and strengthening local partnerships, the work is positioned to continue beyond the grant period and to support aging in place over time.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Woodbridge, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: This project will relocate a bus stop to a safer location near Fellowship House, an apartment complex for older adults with limited income. It will include a new shelter, concrete pad, and seating, improving accessibility.
Burlington, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Older adults and riders with mobility challenges often waited on uneven surfaces at Burlington-area bus stops lacking seating and ADA-compliant pads. GMT addressed this by installing five compact benches and four slip-resistant concrete pads at high-ridership stops near local communities. The project also featured a Ride Together event where older residents learned to navigate schedules, apps and fare payment. These upgrades improved safety, comfort and visibility, and Burlington officials are considering expanding the seating model citywide. Early feedback has been positive, with riders and community members praising the benches and noting increased use.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Chapel Hill, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Frequent crashes on high-injury corridors put pedestrians, especially older adults, at risk when walking to transit or community centers. To address this, the town piloted traffic calming measures including modular refuge islands, a traffic circle and a chicane near key locations. It also hosted a Vision Zero Community Safety Festival and outreach events to educate residents and gather input. These efforts improved safety and accessibility, energized community engagement and accelerated adoption of an updated Traffic Calming Policy, laying the foundation for broader Vision Zero initiatives.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chatham County, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: When the owner of the Bynum General Store in Pittsboro retired, neighbors established a nonprofit organization called Bynum Front Porch, which turned the shop into a community center and performance space. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, grant funds -- and the power of high-speed internet -- enabled the venue to livestream its monthly storytelling workshops and musical events. Bynum Front Porch set up a recording equipment in the space, allowing the nonprofit to reach older adults, former residents and others unable to gather in person. In the years since, Bynum Front Porch has continued to stream live performance and archive shows on its YouTube channel.
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