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Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Public or private transit access
└ Public or private transit access
A lack of benches represented a barrier to older adults using Springfield's public transit system. To make waiting for the bus a more comfortable experience, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority worked with the local parks and public works departments to install ten benches throughout the city. The Authority engaged residents to inform each bench's aesthetics and placement. They tailored the amenities based on each location's historical and design context. In Court Square -- a neighborhood dating to 1636 -- they installed Victorian-style benches. Elsewhere, they chose a more modern look. Organizers hope the new seating encourages people of all ages and abilities to use public transportation.
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Westport, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: Westport Council on Aging launched a fixed-route shopping service to address the lack of public transit in this rural community. Using wheelchair-accessible vans, the program provided rides for errands and shopping, helping older adults regain independence and social connection. Outreach sessions and newsletters promoted the service, and signage on vans increased visibility. One rider said, "This program is a Godsend... I am so grateful," underscoring how reliable transportation reduces isolation and restores autonomy for older adults who no longer drive.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chula Vista, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: The City of Chula Vista wanted to increase older adults' familiarity with public transit options. Partnering with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, they held Travel Training 101 courses with more than forty older residents. Instructors provided trainees with information on how to read transit schedules, plan trips and purchase fares. Then they held field trips, using transit to visit a community festival and the Norman Park Senior Center. Additionally, participants received a 30-day senior transit pass. Following the training, participants said they felt more comfortable using transit, with 83 percent planning to renew their passes. One said she realized that the 20-minute bus ride between their home and the Senior Center saved her 62 a month. Previously she paid 40 round trip by taxi at least twice monthly.
Washington County, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Public or private transit access
Description: An iconic bus shelter known to Mad River Valley locals as The Snail sat unused and had fallen into disrepair. The Yestermorrow Design/Build School stepped in to rescue the structure, replacing rotting siding and roofing, upgrading structural elements and adding accessibility features, such as handrails. After clearing a space on School grounds, volunteers then moved The Snail four miles down the road. They also planted native vegetation around The Snail. Following these improvements, the spiral-shaped bus shelter is now back in use at a public bus stop.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Springfield, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety
Description: Springfield faced nine pedestrian fatalities in 2021, disproportionately affecting older adults, as streets like State Street lacked crosswalks and lighting. WalkBoston launched the Walk Audit Academy to train residents and local groups to identify hazards and advocate for safer streets. Participants completed five audits, produced municipal recommendations and connected with decision-makers during a community report-out. The program built lasting advocacy in the community. One older adult flagged an unlit park path, saying the lack of lighting created hazardous conditions, underscoring the urgency for change.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
South Hadley, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: Older volunteers will be trained as peer technology mentors to expand the number of hours for one-on-one tech help. Faster support will help residents use phones, tablets and computers with greater confidence and fewer delays.
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