The Mount Vernon-Lisbon unit of the Linn County League of Women Voters held a discussion on transportation issues in the communities of Mount Vernon and Lisbon.

Carter Baldwin, director of Linn County LIFTS, said that the group has a contract to provide transportation for people with disabilities in the community of Cedar Rapids.

“Anyone who is unable to ride a city bus in Cedar Rapids is able to utilize our service,” Baldwin said. “We also provide service to the rural areas in Linn County to provide one-way travel from their town to Cedar Rapids.”

LIFTS operates from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and rates are $2 for senior citizens or $6 for regular citizens.

LIFTS has 25 buses they use on a daily basis, and rides from anywhere in Linn County to Cedar Rapids.

Baldwin said prior to the pandemic, LIFTS had a bus that was dedicated to the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities.

A large percentage of the users of LIFTS at the time were assisted living centers and other group homes, and during the pandemic, many of those institutions started their own transportation services for their residents.

LIFTS fleet of buses went to smaller sized 25 passenger buses that are handicap accessible that have the flexibility to house wheel chairs and walkers.

“Our biggest challenge has been finding the right size of buses that serve different communities,” Baldwin said. “When you think of the transportation in the mornings and evenings, you picture roads full of cars, while at other times of the night or day, there are far fewer cars on the road. That’s similar to the buses. They are full in the mornings and afternoons.”

LIFTS only provides transportation in Linn County.

“If someone needs to get a ride to Iowa City, we will get them a connection to the 380 Express that will get them to that location,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said that the number of riders in Mount Vernon and Lisbon each month on LIFTS is roughly 10 per month.

“If we saw an increase in users and numbers in Mount Vernon and Lisbon, we could see offering a dedicated route to the communities, like on Tuesdays or Thursdays,” Baldwin said. “The issue we encounter is people trying to use the service are at the whims of availability for their appointments to fall on those days.”

LIFTS also needs at least 24 hours notice of a request to utilize the public transportation, to make sure there is a route that can stop in the community and give someone a ride to Cedar Rapids and a ride back, as needed. They prefer having upwards of five days notice for a ride.

Baldwin did say LIFTS does provide some a way to get to and from work.

“We know that’s a barrier for long-term employment for some,” Baldwin said. “They might see a job in Amana, but they can’t get there without transportation and we can’t drive to Amana, as we only serve Linn County.”

Baldwin said that some employers have created their own shuttle routes to provide employees a way to get to and from work in some rural communities.

Southeast Linn Community Center director Nicole McAlexander said the organization offers transportation services for seniors who live in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon communities. Those rides are provided by funding from Heritage Agency on Aging that reimburses mileage for volunteers. Volunteers offer the rides at no charge, and can give rides to medical appointments or other services seniors need a driver for. As long as volunteers accept no money for their transportation from the rider, they are not considered a taxi.

McAlexander said SELCC is able to provide a driver for 90 percent of the rides needed, but the asks for drivers are increasing and a number of volunteers providing rides are snowbirds.

“If we’re unable to provide a ride, we will work with the person needing one about other options available,” McAlexander said.

McAlexander said they also can’t provide same or next day rides, as they have to make sure a volunteer can take on the ride.

City administrator Chris Nosbisch said that the request for information for rides in Mount Vernon accounts for less than 1 percent of the calls made to city hall.

“Iowans by nature are stubborn and humble at the same time,” Nosbisch said. “If we look at where transportation solutions have been developed, they’ve been facilitated mostly by need. Most Iowans will do everything in our own power to drive ourselves instead of utilizing public transportation.”

Nosbisch, who also sits on the East Central Iowa Council of Government board, said that transportation is one of the tougher issues the organization tackles.

“I know that if Mount Vernon was isolated as a community on its own, we wouldn’t qualify for state dollars to assist our population, as our median income is to0 high,” Nosbisch said. “Providing transportation at the city level is not an efficient use of tax dollars. We don’t have the usership to make that viable, and there are options like LIFTS that fulfill that.”

Nosbisch also said larger cities are starting to see impacts as well.

“DART, the regional bus for Polk County, sees the City of Des Moines as their largest user,” Nosbisch said. “Some of the suburbs have started pulling out of contracts with the bus service there, since they are not seeing the usership other locations see.”

Nosbisch said Mount Vernon and Lisbon are lucky to be in close proximity to Cedar Rapids, and have robust transportation systems available either through LIFTS or SELCC or Corridor Rides who are able to help get people where they need.

How to schedule a ride with LIFTS

To request a ride with LIFTS, call 319-892-5170. The phone is staffed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on the days holidays are observed.

Any calls made after hours may be left on voicemail and the call will be returned. Until the call is returned, the request will not be scheduled. We must make certain the information is correct before we will make the reservation.

Individuals should schedule rides at least one day prior to but no more than 30 days in advance of the day they need a ride. LIFTS will provide same-day service if space is available.

In order to serve you and others better, you are asked to give the scheduler the following information:

• Rider’s name
• Pick-up address (must be a specific address)
• Drop-off address (must be a specific address)
• Date of trip
• Desired time to be picked up and/or dropped off (please leave plenty of time for the appointment)
• If there will be an attendant or companion accompanying the rider
• If any mobility device will be used
• If a service animal will be used

In addition, the rider should write down the dispatcher’s name, date(s) of trip(s) and trip times. It would be helpful for the rider to confirm this information.

LIFTS may not be able to provide you with a ride for the exact time requested, due to the number of trips requested. LIFTS will always attempt to schedule rides as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The heaviest demand is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. If you are able to schedule your appointments other than these times, we will be more likely to meet your requested time.