Taxicab, Livery, and Hackney Transportation Partnership Grants Program
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), in partnership with MassDevelopment, has developed a statewide grant program to provide funding for state and municipal agencies, regional transit authorities (RTAs), eligible non-profits, and Health and Human Services (HHS) providers to contract with taxicab, livery, or hackney businesses for transportation and delivery needs.
This program is funded through a portion the MassDevelopment Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Fund (TIEF). The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to small businesses operating in the taxicab, livery, or hackney industries to encourage the adoption of new technologies and advanced service, safety and operational capabilities and support workforce development.
In May 2020, MAPC and MassDevelopment established the Urgent COVID-19 Taxicab, Livery, and Hackney Transportation Partnerships Grant program, the first round of taxi partnership grants, to meet vulnerable populations’ transportation and delivery needs during the COVID-19 emergency. This initial grant round provided over $1 million to 25 grantees statewide to address COVID-19 challenges. In October 2020 MAPC and MassDevelopment established a second round of taxi/livery partnership grants.
Questions?
Contact Marah Holland at mholland@mapc.org and/or Travis Pollack at tpollack@mapc.org.
Spring 2021
Taxi/Livery Transportation Partnership Grant Awards
In the spring of 2021, MAPC and MassDevelopment awarded $2,543,883 in funding to 46 cities and towns, municipal agencies, regional transit authorities, nonprofits, and health and human service providers through the Taxi/Livery Transportation Partnerships Grant Program. Grantees will be able to use funds to expand transportation service capacity through contracts with licensed taxi or livery businesses.
Administered by MAPC, these grants will help communities supplement existing transportation options, create new programs to transport individuals to work, grocery stores, non-emergency medical appointments, and other destinations, as well as facilitate delivery of essential supplies such as food and prescription medicine to residents in need.
The following grantees are partnering with taxi and livery companies across Massachusetts to provide transportation services. For more information on trip availability and eligibility, please contact the grantee.
Note: Grantees, particularly those providing non-emergency medical transportation/trips, may provide transportation for COVID-19 vaccines. Please contact the grantees below in your area for more information.
Grantees
Programs with an asterisk(*) may be available up until June 30, 2021, pending funding. All other programs are scheduled to be available until December 31, 2021. Please contact the grantee to verify program availability and eligibility requirements.
| Grant Recipient | Areas Served | Trips and Populations Served | Contact Information |
| Acton, Town of | Acton | Transportation for residents for trips within 25 miles of Acton, particularly nights and weekends, to supplement CrossTown Connect fixed-route and on-demand transit. | Phone: 978-929-6611 |
| African Community Economic Development of New England | Greater Boston | Transportation for the various East African refugee and immigrant communities scattered throughout the greater Boston metropolitan area. | Email: abdulkadir.hussein@acedone.org
Phone: 617-708-0754 Website: www.acedone.org |
| Arlington Council on Aging | Arlington | Medical appointments, plus grocery shopping, personal hygiene appointments, social visits, and rides to COA programs/ activities for older adults. | Email: mtse@town.arlington.ma.us
Phone: 781-316-3400 Website: www.arlingtonma.gov/coa |
| Bay State Community Services | Quincy/ Greater South Shore Area | Medical and non-medical appointments for behavioral health clients unable to use public transportation due to mental or physical disability, age, or risk factors for contracting COVID-19. | Email: info@baystatecs.org
Phone: 617-471-8400 Website: https://baystatecs.org |
| Belmont Council on Aging | Belmont | Non-emergency medical transportation for older adults to destinations beyond the service area of the COA's existing transportation program. | Phone: 617-993-2989
Website: www.belmont-ma.gov/council-on-aging |
| Blackstone Valley Education Hub | Worcester County | Transportation for recently released prison inmates to training facility and job placement. | Email: ares.karen@bv-edhub.org
Phone: 508-266-7158 Website: www.bv-edhub.org/home |
| Boston Public Health Commission | Boston | Transportation for people experiencing homelessness in shelters, frontline emergency shelter staff, non-emergency medical transportation for those who cannot travel by public transit, and housed clients needing delivery of food or medicine who are unable or not advised to travel. | Phone: 617-534-5395
Website: https://www.bphc.org |
| Bridgewater Council on Aging | Bridgewater | Groceries, prescriptions, medical & nonmedical trips for older adults including homebound individuals; last mile transportation to the MBTA commuter train; deliveries from food banks, pharmacies, meals, grocery stores or other services for quarantined, at-risk and COVID-19 positive households; delivery from food pantries for food insecure households; transportation to off-campus educational opportunities, grocery stores, and first mile/last mile connections to MBTA for transit isolated Bridgewater State University students and essential workers. | Email: seniorcenter@bridgewaterma.org
Phone: 508-697-0929 |
| Brookline Council on Aging | Brookline | Non-emergency medical transportation for hours and locations COA vans cannot serve, including Boston Medical Center, VA Hospital in West Roxbury, Mass General Hospital, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. | Email: mfoster@brooklinema.gov
Phone: 617-730-2644 |
| Cambridge Health Alliance | Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Revere, Chelsea, Medford, Winthrop | Transportation vouchers for vulnerable, high risk and undeserved patients in primary service area for medical appointments and to access food. | Email: kbetts@challiance.org and jgranick@challiance.org
Phone: 617-806-8792 and 617-806-8775 Website: www.challiance.org/ |
| Cape Ann Transportation Authority | Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Topsfield | Supporting voucher programs managed by local social service agencies and transportation for out of town medical appointments managed by local COAs. | Phone:
Website:
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| Chelsea, City of | Chelsea | Emergency food distribution system to supply nutrition to sick, vulnerable families afflicted with COVID-19. | Email: bcares@chelseama.gov
Phone: 781-300-3016 (Ben Cares Mobile); 617-466-4180 Website: www.chelseama.gov/housing-and-community-development-department |
| Clinton Council on Aging | Clinton | Non-emergency medical trips for older adults to out of town locations not served by WRTA and current COA vans. | Phone: 978-733-4747
Website: www.clintonma.gov/203/Senior-Center |
| Cohasset Elder Affairs | Cohasset | Supplemental transportation for medical and other essential appointments for older adults. | Phone: 781-383-9112 |
| Concord, Town of (via grant with Town of Sudbury) | Concord | Transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities, essential workers, and financially and food insecure residents, plus healthcare and social services, food and critical supplies, and essential worker transportation. | Email:bwilbur@concordma.gov
Phone: 978-318-3034 |
| Dedham, Town of* | Dedham | Meal deliveries, prescription deliveries, non-emergency medical trips, grocery or other essential shopping. | Phone: 781-326-1650 |
| Egremont, Town of | Egremont, Alford, Mt. Washington | Non-emergency medical (out of town) and other trips for older adults, including people living alone, veterans, the homebound and disabled to replace suspended Southern Berkshire Elder Transportation Commission transit. | Phone: 413-528-0182 ext. 16
Website: www.egremont-ma.gov/coa.html |
| Framingham, City of | Framingham | Emergency food and toiletries to residents in isolation, quarantine, homebound/disabled. | Phone: 508-532-5400 |
| Franklin Regional Transit Authority | Franklin County | Transportation to/from employers in Franklin County and North Quabbin region; specifically targeting 2nd and 3rd shift jobs outside of FRTA typical services hours. | Email: michael@frta.org
Phone: 413-774-2262 ext. 105 Website: http://frta.org/ |
| Fuente De Vida Adult Day Care Services, LLC | Boston (Hyde Park) | Transportation to/from facility for persons 18 years of age or older who have physical, cognitive, or behavioral health impairments. | Phone: 617-333-0050
Website: http://fdvboston.com |
| Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority | Attleboro, Bellingham, Berkley, Carver, Dighton, Duxbury, Foxborough, Franklin, Hanover, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Mansfield, Medway, Middleborough, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Pembroke, Plainville, Plymouth, Raynham, Rehoboth, Scituate, Seekonk, Taunton, Wareham, Wrentham | Long distance transportation to Boston hospitals and Veterans hospitals located outside GATRA area, and for basic essential and urgent needs where GATRA services have been reduced. | Phone: 800-483-2500
Website: www.gatra.org |
| Health and Social Services Consortium, Inc (HESSCO) | Canton, Dedham, Foxborough, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood, Wrentham | Transportation for individuals over age 60, family caregivers, and individuals living with disability under age 60 who cannot be served by Councils on Aging and transit for non-emergency medical trips. | Phone: 781-784-4944
Website: https://hessco.org |
| Helping Our Women Inc. | Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown | Non-emergency medical transportation for women with chronic health conditions living in the Outer Cape towns. | Phone: 508-487-4357 ext. 3
Website: https://helpingourwomen.org/ |
| Holliston Council on Aging | Holliston | Transportation for older adults for non-emergency medical and other essential trips to supplement COA van service. | Phone: 508-429-0622
Website: www.townofholliston.us/senior-center/pages/transportation |
| Hopkinton Council on Aging | Hopkinton | Non-emergency medical and rides for essential shopping trips for older adults, veterans and homebound individuals due to medical issues or disability, including medical trips to Boston. | Phone: 508-439-7330
Website: www.hopkintonma.gov/departments/senior_center/transportation.php |
| Hull Council on Aging | Hull | Non-emergency medical, grocery, pharmacy and other essential trips for older adults and persons with disabilities. | Phone: 781-925-1239
Website: www.town.hull.ma.us/council-aging |
| The Julie Fund Inc. | Boston area (within 70 miles of Mass General Hospital) | Transportation for women to/from cancer treatments. | Phone: 512-968-2506
Website: https://juliefund.org |
| La Bella Vida Adult Day Health Services, LLC | Dartmouth | Transportation to/from facility for persons 18 years of age or older who have physical, cognitive, or behavioral health impairments. | Phone: 774-202-1065
Website: http://lbvsouthcoast.squarespace.com |
| Lexington, Town of | Lexington | Non-emergency medical rides and workforce or other trips when LexPress transit or other options are not available. | Phone: 781-698-4820 |
| Marlborough, City of* | Marlborough | Meal deliveries, grocery or other essential shopping trips for older adults and veterans. | Phone: 508-229-2010
Website: https://marlboroughedc.com |
| Mass211, Inc | Berkshire County | Transportation to food pantry/meal programs, non-emergency medical trips not covered by others, non-emergency mental health appointments, job interviews, emergency childcare, the RMV, or court appearances (including housing court) in Berkshire County. | Phone: 2-1-1
Website: https://mass211.org |
| Maynard, Town of (via grant with Town of Sudbury) | Maynard | Transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities, essential workers, and financially and food insecure residents, plus healthcare and social services, food and critical supplies, and essential worker transportation. | Email: aloveless@townofmaynard.net
Phone: 978-897-1009 Website: www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/gov/departments/council-on-aging |
| Medford Council on Aging | Medford | Transportation for seniors including non-emergency medical trips, grocery store trips, and food delivery. | Email: Pkelly@medford-ma.gov
Phone: 781-396-6010 |
| Methuen, City of | Methuen | Food pantry deliveries, medical/hospital appointments, grocery, drug stores, and trips to/from public transit stations in Lawrence for older adults, persons with disabilities, veterans, and low-income households. | Email: MethuenCaresPrograms@gmail.com
Phone: 978-566-1030 Website: www.cityofmethuen.net |
| Merrimack Valley RTA* in partnership with the Haverhill Transportation Alliance | Haverhill region | Transportation needs of the homeless, non-emergency medical trips, grocery or other essential shopping trips, workforce transportation for essential workers. | Phone: 978-771-9813 |
| MetroWest RTA* in partnership with the Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council | Ashland, Dover, Framingham, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Milford, Natick, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston | Meal deliveries, food pantry deliveries, delivery of prescription drugs, transportation needs of the homeless, non-emergency medical transportation, grocery or other essential shopping trips, workforce trips for essential workers. | Phone: 508-935-2222 ext. 7115 or 508-872-4853
Website:
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| Mystic Valley Elder Services | Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Melrose, Medford, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winthrop | Grocery shopping and medical transportation for older adults and adults living with disabilities isolated in their communities. | Phone: 781-324-7705
Website: www.mves.org/services/transportation |
| Natick Council on Aging* | Natick | Non-emergency medical trips for older adults, veterans, homebound individuals, persons with disabilities. | Phone: 508-647-6540
Website: www.natickma.gov/626/Council-on-Aging-Human-Services |
| Needham Council on Aging* | Needham | Non-emergency medical trips, grocery or other essential shopping and workforce trips for older adults, veterans, homebound individuals, persons with disabilities and essential workers. | Phone: 781-455-7555 |
| Northampton Council on Aging* | Northampton | Non-emergency medical trips for older adults. | Phone: 413-584-7979 |
| Old Colony YMCA | Brockton | Transportation for children experiencing homelessness from housing sites to remote learning site and to licensed daycares, and non-emergency medical transportation for families experiencing homelessness. | Phone: 508-897-1224 |
| Open Sky Community Services | Douglas | Rides from Oasis residential program in Douglas to substance abuse disorder treatments centers in Worcester and Webster. | Email: remke.remmelts@openskycs.org
Phone: 508-476-7374 |
| People Acting in Community Endeavors Inc. (PACE) | New Bedford and surrounding towns | Deliver grocery bags prepared by PACE to its food pantry clients in New Bedford and surrounding towns. | Phone: 508-999-9920
Website: https://paceinfo.org/programs-2/emergency-food-bank/ |
| Pioneer Valley Transit Authority* in cooperation with Mercy Medical Center, MHA, Northampton Survival Center | Northampton, Amherst, Greenfield, Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee | Meal deliveries, food pantry deliveries to food banks, delivery of prescription drugs, transportation needs of the homeless, non-emergency medical trips, grocery or other essential shopping trips for homeless persons, older adults, veterans, homebound individuals, persons with disabilities, and workforce trips for essential workers. | Phone:
Website: www.pvta.com |
| Revere, City of | Revere | Food pantry deliveries, shopping, voting, non-emergency medical trips, workforce development training offered outside Revere and not reachable by transit for older adults, veterans, residents with disabilities, and COVID-19 positive residents. | Phone: 781-286-8311
Website: www.revere.org/departments/public-health-division/coronavirus |
| Sherborn Council on Aging | Sherborn | Medical and grocery trips, personal grooming appointments, rides to church, small meetings for older adults. | Email: coadirector@sherbornma.org and coaprograms@sherbornma.org
Phone: 508-651-7858 Website: www.sherbornma.org/council-aging |
| Shirley Council on Aging | Shirley | Supplemental transportation for medical appointments outside geographical area or not during normal service hours. | Phone: 978-425-1390
Website: www.shirley-ma.gov/council-aging |
| Shrewsbury Council on Aging | Shrewsbury | Supplemental transportation for COA van service (for older adults/persons with disabilities) reduced due to COVID restrictions; as well as trips outside of COA van service hours. | Phone: 508-841-8642 Website: https://shrewsburyma.gov/609/Transportation |
| Somerville, City of | Somerville | Transportation for older adults and persons with disabilities for grocery shopping, food pantry, pharmacies, and non-emergency medical trips; deliveries of food boxes, protective equipment and prescription medications to homebound, immunocompromised, and vulnerable older adults. | Phone: 617-625-6600 ext. 2319
Website: www.somervillema.gov |
| Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services | Somerville, Cambridge | Transportation for older adults and persons with disabilities for non-emergency medical (including vaccination appointments), to meal sites, grocery deliveries, transportation for home health aides to shop for clients, prescription drug pick-up, and transportation for social workers to see clients at home. | Email: colleen.morrissey@eldercare.org
Phone: 617-628-2601 x3152 Website: https://eldercare.org/ |
| Springwell | Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston | Transportation for individuals age 60 and older for both medical and non-medical purposes. | Phone: 617-926-4100 Website: https://springwell.com/resource/springwells-transportation-overview |
| Stow, Town of (via grant with Town of Sudbury) |
Stow | Transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities, essential workers, and financially and food insecure residents, plus healthcare and social services, food and critical supplies, and essential worker transportation. | Email: planning@stow-ma.gov
Phone: 978-897-5098 Website: www.stow-ma.gov/planning-board |
| Sudbury, Town of (in coordination with towns of Concord, Maynard, Stow) | Sudbury | Transportation for older adults, persons with disabilities, essential workers, and financially and food insecure residents, plus healthcare and social services, food and critical supplies, and essential worker transportation. | Phone: 978-443-3055
Website: https://sudbury.ma.us/transportation/go-sudbury-taxi-rides-program/ |
| Tri-Valley Inc. | Bellingham, Blackstone, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millville, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oxford, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Brookfield | Medical and non-medical transportation for older adults and persons with disabilities. | Phone: 508-949-6640 Website: www.trivalleyinc.org |
| Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires | Berkshire County, Hampden County, Hampshire County | Non-emergency medical transportation in the Berkshires as well as to/from Boston and Springfield for those without personal transportation. | Phone: 413-528-4014
Website: https://vimberkshires.org |
| Wayland Council on Aging | Wayland | Transportation for older adults for non-emergency medical trips, essential shopping, prescriptions, food pantry visits, food/meal delivery, visits to family in hospitals, rehab, or hospice, appointments at the COA for information referral, tax preparation, counseling, legal appointments, or social/educational events. | Phone: 508-358-2990
Website: https://waylandcoa.org |
| Weston, Town of | Weston | Non-emergency medical transportation for residents 60+ and adult disabled residents within Weston and to destinations in Waltham, Wellesley, Wayland, Roslindale, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Natick and Framingham; plus trips to prescriptions, groceries and other transportation needs. | Phone: 781-786-6280
Website: www.weston.org/197/Council-on-Aging |
| Worcester RTA* | Auburn, Northborough, Boylston, West Boylston, Westborough, Leicester, Oxford | Non-emergency medical trips, grocery or other essential shopping for older adults, veterans, persons with disabilities, essential workers; workforce trips for essential workers. | Phone: 508-752-9283 or 508-791-9782
Website: www.wrtaparatransit.com |
Summer 2020:
Urgent COVID-19 Taxicab, Livery and Hackney Partnership Grant Program Awards
MAPC and MassDevelopment awarded over $1 million in funding to meet vulnerable populations’ transportation and delivery needs during the COVID-19 emergency.
Twenty-five state and municipal agencies, regional transit authorities, and health and human services transportation providers received grants to partner with taxi and livery companies through the Urgent COVID-19 Taxicab, Livery and Hackney Partnership Grant Program. The grants were awarded to public entities to assist vulnerable populations such as older adults, people facing food insecurity and essential workers. Grants could be used transport essential supplies—like food or medicine—for these populations, or to transport them to work, non-emergency medical appointments, and grocery shopping. Grantees had to contract with taxi, livery or hackney companies to make these trips.