Meanwhile, click here to find information about other large transit systems in Illinois.

Indiana

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• The Indiana Transportation Association's website includes links to urban and rural transit providers.

Meanwhile, visit the following sites for information on transit systems in these areas+:

• Indianapolis
• Bloomington
• Northern Indiana/Chicago area
• Lafayette

Information on rural transit options in Indiana is available here.

Iowa

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. Click on your county to find contact information for the AAA in your area. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• The Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging offers the Iowa Family Caregiver searchable website to find local services for residents age 60 and older. The searchable guide includes public and volunteer transportation resources.
• To quickly link to public transportation options in your community, visit Iowa's Office of Public Transit site. The office also has a link to intercity transit options in Iowa. The Iowa Public Transit Association also has a comprehensive list of transportation resources.
• Visit sioux-city.org to find out about Sioux City's transit system.

Kansas

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. Search by your county or town to find contact information for the AAA in your area. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• Kansas Transit Provider Directory offers an interactive map that links visitors to transit provider agencies throughout the state. Click on any county on the map to find a list of transit agencies and options in that area. Or call the Kansas University Transportation Center at (785) 864-5655.

Kentucky

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Seniors may also be able to find human services-related transportation options at the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services' Department for Community Based Services.

• The Kentucky Public Transit Association offers links to most transit systems throughout the state.

Meanwhile, the state Transportation Cabinet has links to human-services delivery programs that are of interest to seniors on Medicaid or eligible for certain forms of state assistance. The state Office of Transportation Delivery has general information about transportation programs for the elderly and disabled and for those living in rural areas.

Louisiana

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. The Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs can be reached at (225) 342-7100. A listing of local councils on aging can be found here. Louisiana Answers.com is a useful resource for older adults. Highlight your parish and scroll down on the service categories to find transportation, then hit Search to find resources in your area.

• Louisiana's Office of Transportation and Development has a transit resource guide with an interactive map. Click on your parish to find out about transportation options in your community.

Maine

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Meanwhile, check out the social services transportation provider in your region. Buses, vans, or individual drivers can help you get to doctors' offices, clinics and pharmacies in most areas of the state. Advance notice is required for some of these arrangements.

• ITN America is a private transportation resource started in Portland, Maine, and is seen as a model of dignified transportation for seniors in other communities. ITN service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for seniors and disabled residents. ITN service is provided in private automobiles, by paid or volunteer drivers, and provides door-to-door service, with help provided for packages and other items. Membership in the ITN is necessary to receive service.
• Explore Maine has information on travel by buses, ferries, trains, cars and other options. The site includes a Web page where visitors can access information on 16 fixed-route transit systems that provide regularly scheduled bus service in Maine. The state's larger cities offer frequent service on a variety of routes, serving local commuters, shoppers, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others. Another link provides information on demand-response or door-to-door services. Most require a one- or two-day advance reservation, and many include trained volunteer drivers.

Maryland

Maryland's Department on Aging offers information on Local Transportation Services and Resources for Senior Adults for many counties in the state. Also, visit the department's site for Senior Information and Assistance offices to help you with transportation and other service options in your area. For more information, call the department at (410) 767-1100 or toll-free at (800) 243-3425.

• Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) oversees public bus, rail, metro (subway), commuter train and other services in the state. MTA offerings include a Senior Fare Program, which lets seniors ride for one third to one half the cost of normal fares on public transportation. Other special MTA fare programs and services, including curb-to-curb service for those with restricted mobility, are available here.

Meanwhile, if you're trying to find out more about your local transit system, click here for links to locally operated transit systems throughout the state. For more information, call MTA's Transit Information Call Center at (410)-539-5000 or toll-free at (866) RIDE-MTA.

Massachusetts

To find an Area Agency on Aging office near you, visit the Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs website. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers significantly reduced fares for seniors on MBTA buses, trains, rapid transit, trackless trolleys, commuter rail and boats. In order to be eligible, resident age 65 and older must first obtain an MBTA Senior Citizen Photo ID. Check out the website, or contact the Office of Transportation Access at (617) 222-5438, (617) 222-5854 (TTY), or (800) 543-8287 to learn more about obtaining the ID. The Authority's Web page for senior citizens also provides information on programs for those with disabilities, monthly fares and instructions for obtaining updated ID cards. The MBTA's paratransit program, called The Ride, is available throughout greater Boston. Check out other programs and information for seniors and customers with disabilities at the Office for Transportation Access Services.

Meanwhile, here are links to other regional transit systems throughout Massachusetts, in case MBTA does not extend to your community.

Michigan

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• MiSeniors.net lets older people check out transportation options to access community services, health care providers and shopping. Transportation can be offered through any or all of the following modes of transport: demand-response, volunteer drivers or public transit systems. A demand-response transportation service is characterized by flexible routing and/or scheduling of small vehicles to provide door-to-door service on demand. MiSeniors also allows you to search by location for a range of senior services, including public transportation agencies and other transit options.

Michigan's Department of Transportation Public Transit Provider Directory provides links to the state's 19 urban transit systems and nearly 60 nonurban transit systems. The directory provides profiles of each transit system, along with key facts, contact information and links to each system's website.

Minnesota

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Also, Minnesota's Board on Aging offers a Senior LinkAge Line that allows residents age 60 and older to find local transportation options to get to and from appointments, shopping, grocery stores, senior centers or social events. Minnesota communities have different types of transportation services available. Some offer door-to-door (or escorted) transportation, some have fixed routes (such as buse), and some communities, particularly those in rural areas, offer volunteer driver programs. Call (800) 333-2433.

• Minnesota Department of Transportation has a listing of public transit providers throughout the state. Click on the appropriate county (using the drop-down menu) to connect to local public transit information.

Meanwhile, visit metrotransit.org, Minnesota's largest transit system, and Duluth Transit Authority.

Mississippi

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. For more information about human services-related transportation resources, call the state Department of Human Services' Division of Aging and Adult Services at (800) 948-3090.

To find a public transit system in your area, click here. Only a few of the local transit systems have websites. One of the state's largest transit systems, Coast Transit Authority in Harris County, has a program for seniors.

Missouri

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. Click on your county to find contact information for the AAA in your area. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. You can track down a wide variety of transportation services—from public transportation to volunteer transportation resources to nonemergency medical transit—on the Missouri Aging Information Network.

Missouri Department of Transportation offers a directory of transit options for rural residents, and advises those in nonrural areas to visit one of the following links to find information about a transit system near you:

• Columbia Transit System
• Jefftran—Jefferson City Transit
• Kansas City Area Transportation Authority—The Metro
• OATS Public Transportation
• Springfield City Utilities Transportation Service
• Southeast Missouri Transportation Service (site under construction)
• St. Joseph Transit
• St. Louis Regional Transit: Bi-State Development Agency

If these systems don't cover your community, try the Missouri Public Transit Association's member link page.

Montana

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Some of the AAAs have websites that can be accessed from the State Department of Public Health and Human Services website.

To link to transit providers throughout Montana and to find out more about transportation options for older or disabled residents, go to the state Department of Transportation's traveler information page. For information about transit agencies serving older and disabled residents, call the department at (800) 714-7296. or e-mail transitinfo@mt.gov.

Nebraska

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Meanwhile, Answers4Families has a helpful source, an index to Eldercare transportation by city.

Scout out transportation options—from buses to taxis to rural transportation options in your community—with the Nebraska Department of Roads' Transit Directory.

• Lincoln's public transit system StarTran has links of interest for seniors and the disabled.
• Omaha's Metro Area Transit system can be accessed here.

Nevada

Nevada Care Connection offers a searchable database for seniors and caregivers that will pair them up with local transportation and other services in their community. For more information call the state Division of Aging Services contractor, Continuum, at (775) 829-4700.

• Senior Ride Program in Clark County provides discounted taxicab fares to seniors and persons with disabilities through coupon booklets that are accepted by all taxicab companies in Clark County. Clients can cut the cost of cab fares in half. (Las Vegas)
• Washoe Senior Ride, a similar program in Reno, is also available to seniors and the disabled.

  Here's a list of some of the state's largest transit systems:

• Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Transit
• Las Vegas: Citizens Area Transit (CAT)
• Reno: Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County

New Hampshire

To find out about public transportation options in your community, visit the New Hampshire Transit Association's provider directory.

Want to know more about a particular transit provider? Need a bus schedule, route map or ticket info? You'll find contact information as well as links to Internet websites for most of the state's transportation providers. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation Directory connects you to public transit providers, some private carriers and other providers. New Hampshire residents can call (800) 462-8707 for more information. The state is also working on a comprehensive ride-sharing program.

New Jersey

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call (877) 222-3737 to access NJ Ease, a toll-free service that connects seniors with local service providers.

An excellent resource available through the state Department of Health and Senior Services is the CaregiverNJ tool. Seniors and caregivers can click on Community Resources, select their county from the drop-down list, check the services, including transportation, they are interested in and hit Start Search to find providers in their area. Or click on Resources and Services, then click on Transportation to find a wide range of transportation options, from reduced-fare programs to transportation assistance programs. Another good resource is the New Jersey Council on Special Transportation.

Also, New Jersey Transit offers a Trip Planner and information on accessible transportation services. Here are links to some of the state's largest transit systems:

• New York and Newark: Academy Lines, DeCamp Bus Lines, Hudson Transit Lines, Lafayette-Greenville IBOA New Jersey Transit, Newark ONE Bus PATH, Rockland Coaches, South Orange Ave. IBOA Suburban Transit and Trans Hudson Express
• Philadelphia: PATCO and SEPTA

New Mexico

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. Scroll down to the listing of Area Agency on Aging, and click on your county or Native American link. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

New Mexico's Department of Transportation offers links and contact information to a host of transportation providers in the state, including these:

• Rural Transit Providers
• Urban Transit Providers
• Specialized Transportation Programs
• Job Access/Reverse Commute Providers

New York

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. You'll see an interactive map of New York State. Click on your county or Native American link. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• The New York State Transportation Federation offers a Travel Information Gateway to New York. Select a region on the state map you are interested in and select a transportation icon at the bottom of the screen to see a list of transportation providers, contact information and links to the respective sites. Visitors can also visit transit and bus providers in their community. Click on Transit Providers under the map. Intercity and private bus lines, taxis and ferry services are also accessible. Information and links to local paratransit and Dial-a-Bus services are easily accessible on the site. There are also links to rail providers and other transit modes.

The New York City Department of Transportation's Web page of city transit providers can link you directly with a host of NYC providers.

North Carolina

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging office near you. You'll see an interactive map of North Carolina. Click on your county to find the local Area Agency on Aging, which can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services has a county-by-county list of general transportation options along with contact information. The division provides a similar list for medical transportation to help seniors get to medical appointments and nutrition sites or other services and activities necessary for daily living.
• More than 100 urban and rural public transportation systems serve millions of North Carolinians in the state's 100 counties. To quickly access the system in your county, visit TransitNet, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

To quickly link to some of the state's larger public transit systems, visit the North Carolina Public Transportation Association's provider links page.

North Dakota

To tap into the aging services network in North Dakota, contact the state Department of Human Services' Adults and Aging Services, (800) 451-8693. The department's Senior Info Line tool allows users to search for a wide variety of human services, including transportation options, on a county or services basis. For an alphabetical list of transportation services for older adults in the state, visit here.

• TheDakota Transit Association provides contact information for its members, largely local transit systems and human and aging service providers. Meanwhile, here are quick links to the state's largest transit systems, Fargo Metro Area Transit Bus system, and Grand Forks City Bus.

Ohio

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. You'll see an interactive map of Ohio. Click on your county to find the local Area Agency on Aging, which can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call toll-free (866) 243-5678. Some Ohio counties also have their own county office on aging.

• ConnectMeOhio.org is an accessible website for Ohio consumers, caregivers and providers who are looking for up-to-date information about programs and services for people with disabilities, no matter how old they are or where they live. It is also a site for providers to list the services they offer.
• The Ohio Department of Transportation's Office of Transit offers an interactive map of Ohio allowing users to quickly find local transit options in their community. You can also quickly access a list of all of the state rural or urban transit providers from the map.
• The Ohio Public Transit Association provides links to its members, most of the state's public transit systems.

Oklahoma

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. The link above takes you to an interactive map of Oklahoma. Click on your county to find the local Area Agency on Aging, which can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call the Senior Info-Line (800) 211-2116.

The state Department of Human Services' Aging Services Division offers community service providers and transportation resources in the state. For more information, call (800) 498-7995 or (405) 521-4214.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation does not have a list of local transit providers on its website. Click these links to access the state's two largest transit systems:

• Oklahoma City: Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (COTPA)
• Tulsa: Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority

Oregon

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or County Office on Aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call (800) 282-8096. Also, Network of Care is a great resource for seniors and disabled persons in Oregon to find a host of community resources.

• Oregon's Department of Transportation sponsors Shifting Gears in Later Years. The site has good information on alternatives to driving. The department's Public Transit Division offers an interactive service provider directory. Click on your county and you'll find a listing of public, private and special-needs transit options. The DOT also has a Trip Check, which provides links to all local transit (bus and rail) options in the state.

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania's Free Transit Program provides seniors with free transit service on local established bus routes, trolley and rapid-transit lines during off-peak hours on weekdays and all day on Saturday, Sunday and certain holidays. To find out more about transportation options for older residents, visit the state Department of Aging.
• The state Department of Transportation has an excellent interactive public transportation provider directory. Click on your county to find and link to a variety of transportation options—from fixed-route bus service to on-demand programs and intercity options in your community. The electronic provider directory is one of the friendliest in the nation to seniors and the disabled, flagging whether each service provider offers free or discount senior fares, paratransit and other options.
• The Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association links to dozens of local public transit systems in the state.

Rhode Island

• The RIde program provides transportation services to those 60 and older, and handicapped persons under 60 who meet certain criteria. Transportation is generally available weekdays for doctors' appointments, therapy, medical tests, senior day care, kidney dialysis, cancer treatments and meal site lunches. Call RIde approximately three to four weeks prior to appointments at (401) 461-9760 or (800) 479-6902. The link also provides phone numbers for communities that offer additional transportation services.
• Rhode Islanders with disabilities of all ages may be eligible for paratransit services from the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's (RIPTA) curb-to-curb service. This service is provided along existing RIPTA service corridors at a cost of twice the standard bus rate for all riders. Apply by calling (401) 784-9553.
• The state Department of Transportation's links page provides quick access to public transportation providers in Rhode Island. Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority's Pass Program: Seniors & People with Disabilities offers free and discounted fares.

South Carolina

To find an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) office, click on the one nearest you:

• Rock Hill: Catawba AAA
• Columbia: Central Midlands Council of Governments
• Aiken: Lower Savannah Council of Governments
• Greenville: South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments
• Hartsville: Vantage Point-Division of CareSouth, Inc.

Need to find transportation and other resources in your community? Try SC Access, a guide to available resources for older adults, people with disabilities, their family members and caregivers. Click on your county and a service you need, such as local community transportation, and you'll get a listing of providers and contacts. Or use this link to locate the phone number of a regional information specialist in your area.

The state Department of Transportation list of the state's 22 mass transit providers is a PDF list with contact information. The Transportation Association of South Carolina links to most of those urban and rural public transit providers. Interested in commuter-focused Ride-Share info? Visit here.

South Dakota

South Dakota Adult Services and Aging promotes resources that enable disabled adults and older South Dakotans to live independently. The agency hosts a transportation section on its website that provides information, contacts and links to general, human services and medical-related transportation services.

South Dakota's Office of Public Transportation provides a directory of transit providers. The directory list several dozen public and specialized transit service providers, and links to hours and service areas for each provider.

Meanwhile, click on the following links to access some of the larger transit systems in the state:

• Aberdeen Ride Lines
• City of Deadwood Trolley System
• Inter Lakes Community Action (ICAP)
• Palace Transit
• Rapid Transit System
• Regional RTAP Library
• Sioux Falls Transit
• Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS)
• Winner (ROCS) Transit

Tennessee

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. You'll see an interactive map of Tennessee. Click on your county to find the local Area Agency on Aging, which can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call toll-free (866) 836-6678. The Department of Transportation has a directory of urban systems and rural transit agencies. The resource provides service area information and contacts but does not include links to the providers.Visit Tennessee Transit Links for additional public transit information.

Texas

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call (800) 252-9240. Texas also has Area Information Centers, agencies selected by their communities and designated by the Texas Information and Referral Network to provide information about health and human services in their respective regions.

• The Texas Department on Aging and Disability Services has a transportation section on its website that highlights the issue of transportation for older residents and some of the efforts the department is working on in this area.
• The Texas Transit Association offers visitors an interactive directory of Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Authorities, Rural Transit Districts and Urban Transit Systems.

A variety of information on public transportation options is available at the Department of Transportation. Also, Texas Medicaid recipients can request nonemergency medical transportation services through the Texas Department of Transportation. Users must call the toll-free number (877) MED-TRIP or (877) 633-8747 in advance to access services.

Utah

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Meanwhile, the state offers a Seniors.Utah.gov website that links seniors with a wide variety of services, including transportation resources.

• The Utah Urban and Rural Specialized Transportation Association has a provider directory of local transportation providers. The directory, which includes transit systems and human and senior service providers, contains contact information but not links. The association does link to several transit systems in the state on its links page.
• Utah Transit Authority, the state's largest transit provider, has a Seniors On the Go page, highlighting reduced fares and transit benefits.

Vermont

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or call the Senior Health Line at (800) 642-5119. Meanwhile, the state Division on Disability and Aging Services offers an "Essential Trips" resource, linking visitors to local human and community transportation resources.

• Vermont Agency on Transportation offers a Web directory of public transit providers in the state. It lists and links to public and commercial bus providers, as well as rail, ferry and commuter RideShare resources.
• In addition, the Vermont Public Transportation Association offers a good, albeit outdated, directory for transportation services in Orange and Windsor counties. Find out more about the public transportation services, including medical and other specialty resources, available in Vermont.

Virginia

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or contact the Virginia Department for the Aging at (800) 552-3402.

• SeniorNavigator.com can link you quickly to a range of community-based services, including transportation assistance, in your home town. Type in the type of service you are looking for, along with your county or city. After hitting the Search Now button, you'll find a comprehensive list of resources. Seniors without access to computers can call SeniorNavigator's toll-free number, (866) 393-0957, to find services in their home town.
• The Community Transportation Association of Virginia links to the state's transit agencies. Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Rails and Transportation offers a handy database of public transportation providers throughout the state. Click on your area on the interactive map to find a host of transportation links. The site also links to rail and commuter assistance resources.

Washington

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging, near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community.

• The Washington State Transit Association provides visitors with links to local transit systems throughout the state. The Washington State Department of Transportation provides a directory of accessible transportation, offering links and contact information to a wide range of transit providers, including public, rail, ferry and rental services.

Meanwhile, the elderly, disabled and other Washington residents can learn more about a range of services available—from medical to paratransit transportation—from the Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation.

West Virginia

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Or contact the West Virginia Bureau for Senior Services at (304) 558-3317.

• The West Virginia Department of Transportation offers a handy Public Transit Systems & Services Directory. West Virginia's transit operators provide a comprehensive range of services for residents. Some of those services include transportation from rural areas to towns, as well as commuter transportation in larger cities.
• The department also offers the 2004 Transportation Providers Directory. The PDF document includes profiles of public transit systems, specialized transportation providers such as county aging programs, sheltered workshops, community mental health centers, and taxi companies that operate in each county. It provides a description of the transportation service, the service area, days and hours of operation, and the number of vehicles. The department also offers a directory of rail services.

Wisconsin

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. These local agencies can direct you to transportation and other pertinent services in your community. Wisconsin also has county and tribal aging offices that can answer questions about needs, services and opportunities for older persons in their communities. Transportation services can be arranged through the local aging offices to get you to medical appointments, banks, other appointments and social activities; or help you go grocery shopping or attend meal programs. Specialized transportation may be arranged for those using wheelchairs. Some ride services are provided by volunteers. Reservations are required and some charges may apply.

Wisconsin's Department of Transportation hosts a Travel Information page. The resource list is limited for public transit options, but it does provide links to commercial transit options in the state. The department lists specialized transit providers that cater to elderly and disabled individuals.

Also, check out the American Public Transportation Association's Wisconsin page to find information on local public transit options in the state.

Wyoming

Start by finding an Area Agency on Aging or county office on aging near you. The link brings you to Older American Act service providers in each county in Wyoming. Or call the Department of Health's Aging Division at (800) 442-2766, or Tim Ernst at (307) 777-6102. Senior Pathways is a great resource to get you connected quickly with a host of service providers, including transportation providers, in your local community. Click on the map to get a list of services in your county, or narrow the results using the drop-down boxes on the right.

• Wyoming Public Transit Association has a handy resource Public Transit Provider Directory. To find a transit provider, enter a city, county or transit provider name in the search form, or simply click the county or city on the map provided.

Additional Related Links

Ticket to Ride (April 2006)

Katherine Freund: Reinventing Life After Driving (April 2006)

Coping With High Gas Prices (October 2005)

When to Stop Driving (AARP.org)