Ride Connection coordinates and provides a continuum of quality transportation options, services and resources for older adults and people with disabilities through a network of over 30 partners in and around Portland, Oregon.  Ride Connection is the center of the wheel that moves throughout our communities, offering essential transportation in a coordinated, collaborative, stable and reliable manner, keeping older adults and people with disabilities independent and mobile.

Ride Connection and its service partners have evolved from a limited provider of volunteer transportation services to a major source of transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities in the Tri-County area.  The relationship between TriMet and Ride Connection represents a unique blending of public and private resources and serves as a model of effective regional cooperation and collaboration.    

Over the years the Ride Connection network has grown from providing just over 11,000 rides in its first year to providing over 352,000 rides to 11,000 individuals in its 2006-07 fiscal year. In addition, 1,842 new customer intake and referrals were completed through the service center and 1,087 people were traveled trained (one-on-one, trip planning & group trips).

Ride Connection and the network of partners provide the following services:

A source for information and referral

Travel Training

Community transportation services:

• Door-to-Door Service 
• Community Shuttles
• Shared Vehicle Program
• Retired Vehicle Program  
• Innovative Transportation Solutions  
• Client-based services

Support of Service Partners: Ride Connection recognizes, supports and embraces the uniqueness of each individual service partner and community organization. Ride Connection coordinates organization in our region, ensuring support of a reliable community transportation network. Service partner support includes:

• Centralized call center services and scheduling support
•   Driver, staff and partner training and development
• Contract compliance, risk management, safety and reporting assistance
• Accessible fleet acquisition
• Management and maintenance of 90+ vehicle fleet
• Streamlined, time-saving and coordinated funding application processes
• Technical assistance and support to service partners and community organizations
• Advocacy for individuals with transportation needs and for community based providers who meet those needs
• Volunteer recruitment assistance
•   Service Planning, which includes evaluation of existing services for efficiency and creation as well as implementation of innovative solutions for local and regional transportation needs in the community