The Union County Council on Aging and Aged’s transportation program provided 4,781 rides to Wayne County residents during 2024, and that number has increased significantly during 2025.
Through May 27, the program’s provided 3,051 rides for Wayne County residents, Trisha Dearth-Adkins, the council’s executive director, told Wayne County’s commissioners during a June 11 presentation. She said the final 2025 number could be double the 2024 number.
“We’re working on a plan to cover north of (Interstate) 70, so we have some gaps there we’re trying to fill,” said Dearth-Adkins, who noted that the program handles more rural transportation while Rose View provides Richmond paratransit transportation.
Commissioners voted 3-0 to continue partnering — as it has for more than 14 years — with the council for transportation services. The county pays $10,000 annually to the council for the transportation program, which was Union County Transit but is now Whitewater Valley Regional Transit.
Beginning July 1, Whitewater Valley Regional Transit will provide Fayette County transportation, as well, making it a combination of Union County Transit and Fayette County Transit. The service provides transportation for medical appointments, school, shopping and recreation, and has served 90 people per day.
Dearth-Adkins said it now has 17 drivers with two more in training and has 18 vehicles with plans to add three more next year. It did have a dozen drivers for a dozen vehicles.
The service is the designated local provider for Verida, Well Trans, Modivcare and LCP, so it can bill Medicaid and insurance to cover fares. Dearth-Adkins said that helps Wayne County riders with doctor’s appointments and with dialysis appointments.
The transit company also provides medical trips beyond the region on a first-come, first-served availability. Trips could go to Indianapolis, Dayton or Cincinnati.
Other actions
- Commissioners unanimously gave community corrections permission to pursue a Drug Free Wayne County Partnership grant that would fund necessary items, such as hygiene products and bus passes, to people transitioning from jail.
- Commissioners also unanimously appointed Mike McCoy, superintendent of Centerville-Abington schools, to the community corrections advisory board.
A version of this article appeared in the June 18 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.