Two Snohomish County community members helped raise awareness of the crucial need for life-altering transportation services for people living with disabilities and older adults in their rural communities.
Their efforts caught the attention of the public and a Washington state agency, leading to an incredible response of over $418,000 in funding.
Jon Howe + Alan Gossett| Rural Northwest Snohomish County Residents
Jon Howe has been confined to his home for the past several months due to the lack of available para-transport options in his rural northwest Snohomish County community.
His slow-progressing variant of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) called PLS (Primary Lateral Sclerosis), coupled with an inherited immune condition and advanced diabetes, makes him non-ambulatory.
Howe resides with his husband, Alan Gosssett, in an area southwest of Lake Goodwin where there are no public disability-accessible transportation options for disabled residents.
This spring (2024), Gossett reached out to Homage in desperation upon learning that Homage’s Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) was the only option that would provide para-transit service offerings to disabled individuals who need transportation beyond medical appointments in rural Snohomish County.
For $1.75 per ride, TAP provides curb-side pick-up and delivers older adults and people living with disabilities to essential services, including healthcare, congregate meal sites, shopping, reliable transport to maintain employment, and more. In case of any additional connections, TAP also has access to various transportation networks such as DART, Everett Paratransit, or ACCESS.
But Homage was unable to accept any new riders at that time due to lack of funding.
Mike Gantala | Rural Eastern Snohomish County Resident
As Gossett grappled with his husband’s transportation plight in rural northwest Snohomish County, TAP rider Mike Gantala, a man with cerebral palsy who lives in rural eastern Snohomish County with no designated bus routes, was facing concerns that he would not have transportation to his jobs and appointments as TAP’s funding in his area was facing constraints.
As we shared with you back in March 2024, $250,000 in federal funding was granted for a transportation pilot program aimed at bridging the transportation gaps between Snohomish and Index along US-2 and Monroe to Bothell along US-522. However, due to a ridership increase of 128% over one year’s time, the funding was running out.
“The demand for passenger rides in rural areas is significant and growing rapidly,” said Homage Manager of Transportation Ian Watson. “We spread the TAP funds and our services far and wide to accommodate as many people in Snohomish County as possible. This sometimes means we might not be able to provide as many rides per person or add as many riders to the program because the funding is spread so thin. Unlike Homage, transportation companies don’t often service rural areas because it requires longer labor hours, more maintenance, and the additional gasoline to accommodate residents living in lower-density population areas. However, the needs of these communities are the same as any community.”
The Community’s Response
Facing the funding challenges, Homage had been tirelessly pursuing additional funding in hopes of servicing current riders at the rate they were accustomed to and adding new riders, if possible, said Rose.
In March 2024, Homage reached out to the community seeking donations.
Generous donors heard our cry and answered to the tune of $18,000+ in donations.
The State’s Response
Meanwhile, Gossett took his plea to the Washington State Dept of Transportation (WSDOT).
WSDOT answered his call and allocated $400,000 in additional funding for Homage’s TAP, specifically to increase and expand its service in the Lake Goodwin area of North Snohomish County, where Gossett and Howe reside.
The generous addition of this funding from WSDOT to cover rural northwest Snohomish County now means that the existing TAP funds that were shared from an overall pot to cover all areas across Snohomish County can be reallocated from the rural northwest area and dispersed to other places throughout Snohomish County where riders are also facing ride cuts or are on waiting lists, said Rose.
The additional WSDOT funding kicked in on June 1, 2024.
“The transportation services offered by Homage are essential to the quality-of-life of the disabled living in underserved areas and allow them to continue living in their own homes,” said Gossett. “Without Homage’s generous supplemental funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Jon would have been confined at home, unable to leave for anything other than medical appointments until late 2025. The improvement in Jon’s quality-of-life made possible by the extraordinary concern and efforts of our legislative district members and the WSSDOT staff as well as the services offered by Homage are deeply appreciated. Jon and I are already planning the first trip that we can now take on behalf of Homage in the near future.”
“Because I have to use a wheelchair I need specialized transportation, and I have been piecing rides together since I left high school in 2002. When TAP became available in my rural area I was elated,” said TAP rider Mike Gantala. “I visit my legislators regularly and lobby for better transportation in rural areas for people with disabilities who can’t get to a regular bus stop. TAP is crucial for us and thank you WSDOT for listening and stepping up to make our lives better.”
“Thanks to advocates like Alan and Mike, the willingness of WSDOT to drop everything and find a solution for this great need, and generous community members and donors, TAP is able to help our riders find not just transportation but a renewed sense of hope,” said Rose. “Our gratitude knows no bounds.”