Minnesota Ride Link

Linking local transportation options 1. Purpose: Link veterans, military families, caregivers, and others to a single source of information on local transportation options

Project Ride Link adds greater Minnesota County Veterans Service Offices, transportation providers (public, non- profit, and intercity bus), and veteran service organizations to the MinnesotaHelp Network™. This existing network is a virtual call center that provides a unique way for partner agencies to communicate among themselves. The communication tool simplifies inter-agency referrals for services (including van and bus services) by connecting partner agencies through an on-line secure network. The tool allows users to:  I nitiate on-line web chats with an unlimited number of people from an on-screen contact list  T ransmit secure files through a secure encrypted system  S hare desktops with other users (either snapshot or desktop)  S end secure email among users within the system Expected outcomes of Ride Link include: Information among partner agencies is linked through the MinnesotaHelp Network™ Partner agencies can refer customers quickly and efficiently Finding information about transportation options is easy

Progress Ride Link has partnered with the DAV to enhance communications among CVSOs about van routes in the Northwestern part of the State and future routes in the Northeastern part of the State. Initially Ride Link expanded the Network to include partner agencies in southwestern Minnesota and improved transportation information on the Network’s webpage, www.MinnesotaHelp.info. Currently, partners in the northern, central and southeastern part of greater Minnesota are being added to the Network. Additional improvements to the transportation page on the website are also underway.

Background The Federal Transit Administration awarded MnDOT a Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative grant. The grant funds 80 percent of eligible expenses to support communication among veterans’ organizations and transportation providers. MnDOT partnered with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, the Minnesota Board on Aging, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to implement the Ride Link project.

2. For More Information

Visit: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/transit/minnesota-ride/

Or contact: Mike Schadauer, Director, MnDOT Office of Transit, 651-366-4161, [email protected]