PIKE COUNTY, PA — It can be hard to get around for residents of a rural place who don’t own a means of transportation.

In Pike, those residents’ needs are met by Pike County Transportation (PCT), a department of the county government that operates multiple programs to help eligible customers access essential services. 

That program will soon see its first rate increase since 2016, according to the Pike County government. The new fares will come into effect on July 1. Fares for seniors will see an increase of under 50 cents, and fares for people with disabilities will see increases between 45 cents and $1.35. Fares for the general public will increase 20 percent across the board. 

The fare increase is necessary to keep the program running in the face of rising expenses, according to Pike County Human Services and Transportation Executive Director Robert Ruiz. 

“Since our last fare adjustment, the cost of providing transportation services has increased by nearly 80 percent,” Ruiz said. “This includes higher expenses for fuel, insurance, staffing, maintenance and supplies. To maintain reliable and essential transportation service for our residents, a modest fare increase is necessary.”

PCT has other sources of funding for its programs beyond just the fares it collects. 

The department gets federal and state funding through programs like the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund and the Pennsylvania Lottery Fund, as well as local support from the Pike County government. 

“While exact percentages can vary annually, it’s common for fare revenues to cover only a modest fraction of total operating expenses,” said Ruiz. “This underscores the importance of governmental and contractual funding in maintaining and enhancing transportation services for Pike County residents.”

A needed service

PCT’s programs help meet the transportation needs of Pike County’s most vulnerable residents. 

PCT operates a shared ride program for the county’s senior citizens, making direct trips between their homes and needed activities such as medical appointments and social services. The department offers the same program to Pike County residents with disabilities. 

PCT also operates a medical assistance transportation program, offering non-emergency medical transportation to people in need. 

These services are “vital” to the well-being of Pike County’s vulnerable residents, according to Ruiz. “In rural areas like Pike County, limited public transit options can lead to isolation and hinder access to essential services.”

“Access to reliable transportation enables older adults and and people with disabilities to attend medical appointments, participate in social activities and maintain independence,” said Ruiz. “Without such services, these individuals may experience increased health risks and social isolation.”