Area transportation options for senior citizens was the focus of a Sept. 23 talk at the Ellsworth Senior Center.

“Transportation is important for everyone of all ages,” said Michelle Griffin, mobility manager for the North Central Kansas Coordinated District. “My job is really to talk about transportation, give you information, talk to different agencies and help people get where they need to go.”

Griffin, the first of six mobility managers in Kansas, works with eight counties, including Ellsworth County.

She said the goal is for people to be independent.

“Even though someone may not drive or may not choose to drive, they still want to be independent,” Griffin said. “They still want to get to the things they like to do or they want to do, and that’s really the basis for everything we do in transportation.”

Griffin said in addition to access and independence, transportation is important for employment, education, to provide opportunities, for healthcare and social connectivity and hope.

“Any investment that your community puts into public transit gives you a five to one return,” she said. “Every dollar you put in, you’re going to get a $5 return for your community.”

Transportation, according to Griffin, helps people age in place.

“That’s really important,” she said. “You all want to live here in Ellsworth County but you may need to get services from another area. If we can keep you living here but still get you where you need to go that’s important for this county and this community.”

Griffin reviewed the various transportation modes available. These run the gamut from demand-response, which is what the Ellsworth County Council on Aging, the City of Wilson and the City of Holyrood provide, to volunteer driver services, which Wilson provides and bike sharing, which is available in Ellsworth. Two bike racks are available in town, one at the Hodgden House Museum Complex, and the other at Krizek Park.

In addition, regional paratransit is available through OCCK Inc. Transportation. This service provides origin to destination, on demand general public transportation anywhere in North Central Kansas.