How to Apply for the Rural Transportation Program

For specific information regarding the Nebraska affiliate transportation program, contact The American Council of the Blind of Nebraska, sponsoring organization, by phone at (888) 218-8061 or via E-mail at acbn@inebraska.com.

The Nebraska affiliate rural transportation program was developed and funded jointly by the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska and the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired to meet the transit needs of blind and visually impaired persons living in rural Nebraska.

Over the years, the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska has recognized the need to develop subsidized/supported transportation programs for elderly blind and visually impaired persons living in rural Nebraska who have limited or no taxi service and no fixed-route bus service.

The Rural Transportation Program is a cost-effective and efficient means of providing necessary transportation. It is self-directed inasmuch as the rider controls with whom he/she rides, when he/she rides and where he/she goes. The Rural Transportation Program is meant to augment, not subsidize, existing services such as city or county handi-van or senior van systems. Riders are encouraged to use existing services when possible.

The goal of the Rural Transportation Program is to use an integrated approach to meeting the transit needs of the blind and visually impaired. This approach includes:

• Developing subsidized taxi programs in rural communities, where possible;
• Increasing access to existing transit services;
• Using a combination of volunteer drivers who would be reimbursed for mileage expenses; and

• An integrated system of cooperative agreements between and among various transit providers who would accept a common voucher for reimbursable expenses.
  

HOW THE RURAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WORKS

When a person wishes to use the Rural Transportation Program, he/she must:

• Fill out the application form appropriate to his/her city of residence;
• Choose to use the subsidized taxi program, the volunteer driver program, or a combination of the two;
  Purchase taxi program coupons and/or volunteer driver vouchers at half-price; and
• Secure his/her own volunteer driver; be sure driver is responsible, insured, and clear about driver responsibilities.

The Rural Transportation Program will reimburse volunteer drivers for mileage expenses.

The American Council of the Blind of Nebraska reserves the right to limit the Rural Transportation Program to a specific service area and to deny service if a rider’s request is beyond the scope of the program.

WHEN USING VOLUNTEER DRIVERS UNDER THIS PROGRAM, NEITHER THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND OF NEBRASKA NOR ANY FUNDING AGENCY OR SOURCE CAN BE HELD LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE IN THE CASE OF INJURY OR LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The taxi program and volunteer driver program are now available in the Nebraska’s Panhandle area. To apply, contact:

Panhandle Independent Living Center
PO Box 2454
Scottsbluff, NE 69363-2454
Phone: 308.635.7901

You can also contact the NCBVI offices located in North Platte or Scottsbluff

Transportation