Accessible public transportation is a boon to any city and the people who live there. For half a century, the City of La Porte’s TransPorte program has been providing city residents with affordable, reliable bus transportation options. Originally, the program was similar to a standard bus system, with consistent routes and schedules.
“It used to be a route service, so there was an established route all through the City of La Porte,” said Beth West, director of TransPorte. “Over the years, it has evolved to an on-demand service, which means people have to call to get their ride.”
As demand and need evolved, so too did TransPorte. Now, TransPorte is an on-demand curb-to-curb bus service. This, alongside the removal of a token system, has made the service even more accessible, especially to older riders.
“We do have a lot of elderly riders, so it's a little bit easier for them to get on and off curb-to-curb versus having to walk to an actual pickup location,” said West.
Curb-to-curb service helps senior riders get around the city with ease, whether that’s going to the store, a show, or a doctor’s appointment. Many seniors, especially those with mobility issues, can become confined to their homes as their ability to move decreases. To help these riders as well as riders with physical disabilities, all five of TransPorte’s buses are handicap-accessible.
“All of our buses have a hydraulic lift which is able to be used by anybody that has some type of disability, whether they just can't get up the steps to the bus or they're in a wheelchair or have a walker,” West said. “They're able to use our lift to get inside the bus.”
TransPorte’s services run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The convenience of the service, as well as the ride costing less than a gallon of gas, have made the service popular with the younger crowd as well.
“A lot of people have this perception that we're basically for seniors when we're not. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been about equal for senior riders and younger adults. We have a group that we take to Fas-Pak in the morning to get to work,” said West. “We have a lot of workers that ride our service, and a lot of seniors that we help get to the grocery or doctor’s or wherever they need to go.”
On top of on-demand service, TransPorte also lets riders schedule rides, making planned, time-sensitive appointments such as doctor’s visits or job interviews with nothing to stress over.
“We prefer you call 24 hours in advance, especially if you have an appointment that you definitely have to be someplace on time,” said West. “Call at least 24 hours and up to two weeks before to schedule your ride and we will guarantee that you're going to be at your appointment on time. Anybody that calls the same day for a ride will be plugged in between our pre-scheduled rides.”
After 50 years of service, TransPorte has become a mainstay of La Porte’s infrastructure. Taking accessibility and reliability into account throughout the entire service, West and her drivers know that the rides they provide benefit everyone.
“We're here for anybody in the City of La Porte, and we're cheaper than a gallon of gas,” said West.
TransPorte provides curb-to-curb service within city limits and up to one mile outside the city. To schedule a ride with TransPorte, call 219-362-6565. TransPorte accepts cash-only and asks that commuters have an exact fare for their ride. Rides can be purchased individually or in 10-ride bundles. To learn more, visit TransPorte’s website here.
To learn about other important pillars of the City of La Porte’s infrastructure or to stay up to date on what’s happening in the city, visit cityoflaporte.com.
