(Chelsea Update would like to thank Bill O’Reilly for the information in this story.)
The Board of Directors for the Chelsea Area Senior Center (CSC) and Western-Washtenaw Are Value Express (WAVE) recently announced an agreement to provide expanded transportation options for area older adults (60+).
This program is made possible through a grant awarded to the Senior Center’s Rural Older Adults in Motion (ROAM) program by the Vital Seniors Competition (funded by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Glacier Hills Legacy Fund) as well as state, federal and other funding provided by W.A.V.E.
A 12-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift has been purchased and was placed into service on Oct. 1.
Under this new program, seniors are eligible for free door-to-door transportation to and from the Chelsea Senior Center.
Additionally, qualifying seniors scheduled on this bus can travel free of charge to and from other locations in the Chelsea area as well as the Dexter area.
The service area of this partnership includes the City of Chelsea, the City of Dexter, Lima, Lyndon, Sylvan, Dexter and portions of Scio Township.
Riders can also travel to and from the Zeeb Road Meijer with schedule availability. At that location, riders can opt to transfer to an AAATA bus to travel to locations in Ann Arbor for a fare.
This new service operates between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rides must be scheduled in advance through WAVE’s dispatch center and are subject to schedule availability.
The ROAM vehicle is dedicated to senior riders. Caregivers accompanying seniors riders always travel free.
This program only applies to this ROAM vehicle and does not apply to other WAVE vehicles.
WAVE will continue to operate its local and county-wide door-to-door, fixed route and local free shuttle programs.
To reserve a ride on the new ROAM vehicle, please call WAVE at 734-475-9494 (8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., M-F).
Seniors needing ride services outside WAVE service hours and boundaries can contact CSC to schedule alternative transportation, at cost, via Lyft and Uber.
To schedule off-hours or out of the service area rides, call CSC at 734-475-9242 (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., M-F).
Questions regarding the program can be directed to CSC’s Executive Director Bill O’Reilly at 734-475-9242 ([email protected]) or WAVE’s Executive Director Michaelene Pawlak, at 734-433-1338 ([email protected]).
