HATS, WRS drivers keep communities moving

I'm Jamie Baker. My mugshot may look familiar to Courier readers, because I spent the better part of 25 years working in various capacities for the newspaper's sports department. Fast forward a couple of short years, and I'm now working as the director of transportation for the Hancock Hardin Wyandot Putnam Community Action Commission. I'm in charge of Hancock and Wyandot counties' public transportation, Hancock Area Transportation Service (HATS) and Wyandot Ride Service (WRS). Through an agreement with the county board of commissioners, the HHWP CAC operates the county's public transportation system through the Federal Transportation Administration's 5311 rural transit program with oversight by the Ohio Department of Transportation. With our fleet of 35 vehicles and 30 drivers spread between the two counties, we provide public transportation to any Hancock or Wyandot County residents who need transportation on a first come, first served basis. Despite the rapid rise in fuel prices in recent months, HATS and WRS provide each trip at the federally subsidized cost of $1.50 for trips within the communities of Findlay, Upper Sandusky and Carey; and $2.50 for rides outside of those communities in Hancock and Wyandot counties. You won't find a better bargain than that anywhere. Need a ride to work? We can do that. The burger you ate recently at Culver's, McDonald's or Wendy's may just have been made by one of our passengers who ride our buses and vans to work each day. In fact, during the first quarter of 2022, we provided nearly 9,500 rides for people needing transportation to work. Have a medical appointment at one of the many Blanchard Valley Health System facilities in the region? We've got you covered. Yes, we transport dozens of folks each day to a wide range of medical appointments in Findlay, Carey and Upper Sandusky. Dialysis clinics, hospitals, family doctors, specialists, you name it, we go there. We made 3,712 trips to medical facilities over the past three months, providing folks transportation to appointments they otherwise may have missed because of a lack of transportation. A little low on milk and bread and need to head to the supermarket to stock up on essentials or maybe grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant? Yup, we transport people to all of those destinations daily. During the previous 90 days, we've made more than 2,500 drop-offs or pickups at retail establishments in Hancock and Wyandot counties. Providing safe and affordable transportation to local residents to maintain their employment and independence, and to receive the goods and services they need, that's what the dedicated men and women who work in our transportation department do each and every day to make a positive impact on our community. It's all a part of the HHWP CAC's mission to reduce the conditions of poverty by providing comprehensive services to improve the lives of the residents in Hancock and Wyandot counties. Baker is the director of transportation at the HHWP Community Action Commission. He can be reached at 419-619-3936 or jbaker@hhwpcac.com