RTP Program Recognized Nationally for Innovation in Public Transit

Rider's Choice cited as 'innovative' and 'useful' in recently published federal report

Rider's Choice, an RTP program that enables Cumberland County residents to make a single telephone call to find the most appropriate public transportation option in the region, has been recognized for innovation by national transit researchers.

Rider's Choice was created three years ago by Regional Transportation Program (RTP), a nonprofit agency providing door-to-door and other transportation services to more than 4,500 people throughout Cumberland County. With Rider's Choice, residents call one number - 774-2666 or 1-800-244-0704 - and an RTP dispatcher matches their transportation needs with the most appropriate and affordable public transit system, which could include METRO, the South Portland Bus System, an RTP bus or van, or any other existing transportation service.

The program was featured recently in a national report, Guidebook for Change and Innovation at Rural and Small Urban Transit Systems, sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in Washington, D.C.

Researchers tout Rider's Choice as an "innovative way to provide centralized information about public transportation services in a large area." The report concludes that Rider's Choice "is a very low-cost initiative, simple to implement with readily available, proven technology that provides a very useful information clearinghouse service to callers where there are multiple transportation providers and options." The FTA provides financial and planning assistance to help plan, build, and operate rail, bus and paratransit systems.

"We're very pleased that Rider's Choice has been recognized for excellence by a federal agency," said Jon B. McNulty, executive director of Portland-based RTP. "We hope the program can serve as a model for other communities nationwide."

RTP launched Rider's Choice in 1998 through a contract with the Maine Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and now logs more than 155 calls per month.

The Rider's Choice service is available to callers from 5:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. weekdays, with limited access nights, weekends and holidays. Callers who speak to an RTP dispatcher can get bus and ferry schedule information and discuss or arrange transportation using the most appropriate provider. RTP works in partnership with several agencies to provide the service, including AMISTAD (a mental health support organization), Ingraham Volunteers and the Greater Portland Council of Governments.

Established in 1976, RTP is a United Way agency that provides door-to-door transportation to the elderly, social service agency clients, the economically disadvantaged and persons with disabilities in Cumberland County. RTP serves more than 4,500 people countywide, providing about 1,000 rides a day to people who need to get to medical appointments, grocery shopping, work and other necessary services.

RTP recently launched an easy-to-use web site at http://www.rtprides.org to better inform Cumberland County residents about RTP's wide range of low-cost ride programs. The web site highlights the innovative programs RTP has launched in recent years, including Rider's Choice; a Commuter Transit Network that matches commuters with people who need rides; an Access to Jobs program to help people transition from welfare to work; and a commuter bus service from Saco/Portland to BIW in Bath.

Other longtime RTP programs featured on the site include Shopper's Express, the county-wide bus service, door-to-door rides through volunteer drivers and ADAPT, which helps persons with disabilities ride public transportation in Portland, South Portland and Westbrook.

Located at 127 St. John St., RTP serves residents of more than 26 towns in Cumberland County, including Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook, Gorham, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Freeport, Windham, Standish, Casco and Bridgton.

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