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Spotlight on Community Services
Written by: Karen Davis, JAUNT Community Relations & Ed. Manager
No doubt you have seen our red, white and blue buses in your neighborhood, pulling up to the library, or crisscrossing the myriad of back country roads in Louisa County. Despite our pervasive presence in the community the number one question I receive when I attend local events is “What is JAUNT?” It’s a great question to ask because our service is different in each locality that we serve.
JAUNT was organized in 1975 when several human service agencies realized that it would be much more efficient and cost-effective for them to have their clients share rides. We were first located on 1111 Rose Hill Drive in Charlottesville. The number of trips was few and the staff was small. The fleet consisted of less than six vans. Reservations were posted on index cards and posted on a wall. Need to change your trip? Your index card moved.
Today, JAUNT is a regional transportation system that provides service to the citizens of Charlottesville, as well as Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson Counties. JAUNT receives federal, state and local funding to help cover its operational costs. JAUNT is a critical community partner that assists agencies like the Arc, Region Ten and JABA (Jefferson Area Board for Aging) in meeting their transportation needs. Today we have a large facility, a state-of-the-art computerized Reservation and Dispatch system, a fleet of 69 vehicles, and a staff of more than 100. We are currently located at 104 Keystone Place in Charlottesville, Virginia.
JAUNT provided over 300,000 trips last year. Commuters were able to get to their jobs on time. Seniors were transported to and from valuable community programs. Patients were able to see their doctors. Children were able to attend afterschool programs. In Louisa, JAUNT offers a variety of transportation services. We offer door-to-door service within the county; a Commuter Route to Charlottesville, and Midday Service to Charlottesville. All trips are by reservation and anyone may ride. The fares are affordable and often reduced for seniors and people with disabilities. For more detailed information please visit our website, www.ridejaunt.org or give us a call at 1-800-365-2868.
Well, you’ve seen our buses and you know that we are a provider of public transportation. But what you may not realize are the extraordinary lengths that our staff goes through to try and meet a person’s request. Every time we take a call and schedule a trip we remember that our transportation connects people to the community resources they need. If you have never taken a ride on a JAUNT bus, give us a call so that you can experience that at JAUNT it is never just about the bus or the route. It is always about the people we serve.
Here are some fun facts about JAUNT’s history and its Louisa service:
* After incorporating in 1983 we adopted the name JAUNT, Inc.
* RideShare used to be operated from our offices.
* JAUNT provided over 32,000 trips in Louisa in Fiscal Year 2011.
* Louisa seniors ride free to the Louisa Senior Center.
* JAUNT celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2011!
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