To the editor:

The Monadnock Region Coordinating Council for Community Transportation (MRCC) has primarily been focused on serving older adults and people with disabilities and their transportation needs. For some time, the MRCC has been aware that youth transportation challenges exist. In our Coordinated Community Transportation Plan, increasing capacity to provide youth transportation is identified as a priority project. There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence supporting the lack of transportation options that prevent youth from accessing educational and developmental opportunities.

Recognizing that we needed deeper understanding of youth transportation needs, the MRCC invited youth transportation stakeholders, e.g. school districts, after-school programs, parks and recreation departments, and school transportation providers to begin exploring the issue more closely by conducting a more systematic analysis.

Southwest Region Planning Commission staff provide backbone support for the work of the MRCC and have been instrumental in facilitating this new effort.

Over the next six months, the MRCC will launch a three phase scope of work. During the first two phases – data collection/fact-finding and action plan development. These two stages play to the MRCC’s strengths: convening stakeholders, gathering information, and facilitating a planning process.

The outcomes of these two stages will improve the basis for the third phase – project implementation.

The third phase will require leadership by partner groups/organizations, with the MRCC and Southwest Region Planning Commission, perhaps playing supportive roles. Anyone interested in participating in this project or wanting to learn more, please consider attending our next meeting.

The MRCC meets monthly, on the third Tuesday. Our next meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 21, beginning at 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Stone Arch Village Senior Housing Building, 835 Court St., Keene. As meetings are open to the public, please contact Ellen Avery at 821-4081 or ellen@cvtc-nh.org for more information.

Ellen A. Avery

Executive Director, Community Volunteer Transportation
Company

Peterborough