A transportation grant will bring $3.2 million over three years to Waupaca County. ThedaCare, along with community partners, helped highlight the need for transportation resources in critical access areas. 

The transportation solution planned by the community leadership in Waupaca County takes an innovative, yet proven approach to addressing rural transportation through a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and mobility management model—the practice of using all available resources, and developing new ones to improve mobility, increase efficiency and reduce cost. As recovery from the COVID pandemic continues, the proposed programming will work to ensure people facing economic insecurity, returning to employment, or endeavoring to maintain employment have affordable transportation options.

In 2018, ThedaCare’s New London Community Health Action Team (CHAT) hosted a “plunge” focused on the issue of transportation. A plunge is a day-long event where diverse community members visit multiples places in the community to hear about an issue, such as transportation, from those who are most affected. After the plunge, all come together to identify assets and gaps and co-create solutions that those most affected believe will have the greatest potential for positive change.

 This grant is the latest effort of the transportation team. Last year, transportation options called Make the Ride Happen were announced that help people figure out the best, low-cost options for a ride.