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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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St. Louis, MO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: At many bus stops, riders must stand for long periods without seating, a challenge that discourages transit use for older adults. Citizens for Modern Transit installed benches with backs and armrests at stops that previously lacked basic amenities. The project paired seating improvements with volunteer-led story collection from riders and nearby residents. At one opening, a rider shared she had spent hundreds of hours standing at that stop, while another had relied on a milk crate to sit. The benches improved daily comfort and helped prompt additional local investment in shelters and stop upgrades.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Expanded travel training and a regional assistance call center will be provided to older adults. Participants will gain skills to plan trips and use transportation options.
Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Many residents lacked knowledge about how to use public transit, creating barriers for older adults and people with disabilities-especially after the local taxi service closed. Bis-Man Transit produced 11 short instructional videos explaining trip planning, timetables, fares and stop requests. Shared online and used in training sessions, these videos provide a lasting resource to help riders feel confident using public transit. Volunteers, including an older adult and a wheelchair user, appeared in the videos to show real-life scenarios, making the system more approachable and accessible.
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: 2026
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Public seminars will help residents evaluate small home changes that support aging in place. Participants will receive summaries that guide practical next steps.
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.
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