St. Tammany Parish Rural Transportation Program Restructured (02-27-2009)
Beginning Monday, March 2nd, riders in rural St. Tammany needing rides to in-parish destinations should call 985-649-6956. The Rural Transportation Program, formerly provided through the COAST (Council on Aging St. Tammany), will be available through St. Tammany Parish through its new local contractor, LACT. The fare structure for the service remains the same. Fares range between $1.50 and $4.00 per trip, with one-half fare for the elderly or disabled. The rural program is limited to trips beginning in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish.
The new phone number, 649-6956, is now active to book demand-response trips for early next week. Trips must be booked in advance.
COAST remains the provider of free transportation to the elderly and disabled throughout St. Tammany Parish. This service is provided through federal grants and a St. Tammany Parish millage. There is no restriction on where trips for the elderly and disabled begin through the COAST program.
Calls from elderly and disabled citizens requesting free transportation will be directed back to COAST. If these citizens qualify for rural transportation and choose to pay, St. Tammany Parish’s provider will take the trip.
The parish will release more information on this program as it becomes available.
