A Central Texas program offers free transit to residents over 60.
A free transit program in Central Texas is a major lifeline for older residents, writes Madeline de Figueiredo in The Daily Yonder. The Capital Area Rural Transit System, which launched in 2024, was designed to help seniors reconnect to their community after the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Through a partnership with local agencies, we are providing free rides to seniors 60 and above, to really anywhere they want to go, just to get them out of their houses and connected back into the communities," said Dana Platts, CARTS' community engagement director. Between September 2025 and April 2026, CARTS riders took 12,776 trips.
The program fills a common gap in rural communities, where residents without cars or the ability to drive often face major barriers in getting around. "Researchers and advocates have linked those transportation gaps to missed medical appointments, reduced access to essential services, and increased social isolation."
Read the full story: Rural Transportation Program Serves Aging Populations in Central Texas
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