How Federal Funds Lead to Discounted Transportation for Seniors in Greater Hartford, CT

Affordable and Accessible Transportation for Greater Hartford’s Older Adults

As one of Connecticut’s largest, full-service transport companies, M7 has partnered with the Greater Hartford Transit District (GHTD) to deliver to passengers the Encompass program as a way to assist seniors and individuals with disabilities when it comes to accessible and affordable transportation.

Before we dive deeper into the program, let’s get to know the authority that has made this initiative possible and how they tie together with M7’s intention of making transportation more convenient.

Who is the FTA and What Do They Do?

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is a modal administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to public transportation systems.

Their main role is to support public transportation systems with financial and technical assistance, administering a national transit safety program to make transit safer through policy development, hazard investigation, data collection, risk analysis, oversight programs, and information sharing.

M7 Encompass

In line with that, the Encompass program is a partnership between M7 and the Greater Hartford Transit District, subsidizing the cost of the ride. It’s a low-cost, user-friendly solution that expands transportation options. The funding for this program is awarded jointly to M7 and the Greater Hartford Transit District (GHTD) by the FTA, based upon their proposed ingenuity and technology solutions.

Need Non-Emergency Medical Transportation? Here’s how you can get wheelchair-accessible transportation in Connecticut.

Medical and Student Transportation

If you’re eligible, trips under the Encompass program are discounted. For the first 8 miles, the passenger only needs to pay $5.00, and each additional mile costs $2.90, which is automatically charged to their account, meaning there’s no exchange of money needed when they’re in the vehicle.

Eligibility

Applicants are required to be at least 60 years of age or have a disability, and each passenger is approved through an eligibility process managed by the Greater Hartford Transit District (GHTD).

For service in the Greater Hartford area, passengers must be a resident in one of the following areas:

Avon
Berlin
Bloomfield
Cromwell
East Hartford
Ellington
Farmington
Glastonbury
Hartford
Manchester
Meriden
Middletown
New Britain
Newington
Plainville
Rocky Hill
South Windsor
Tolland
Vernon
West Hartford
Wethersfield
Windsor
Windsor Locks

What Happens After an Approved Application?

Passengers get a personal Encompass account where they can make payments online. They also have the option to load credits into their account via credit card payments or direct bank transfers. And it’s even more convenient because passengers no longer have to pay for the ride once it ends, since it’s already paid for after they’ve booked it.

Experience the M7 Encompass Commitment

At M7, we’re more than committed to give you the peace of mind you deserve when traveling. We have the safest drives around Connecticut. You can apply through the link here, or learn more about the Encompass program here. To book, approved passengers are free to schedule transportation 24/7 through online booking or by placing a call through (860) 444-4444.