PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Mountain Rides Transportation Authority is seeking members of the public to join a seven-person advisory committee for the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) pilot bus service scheduled to begin on April 1, 2021.

The pilot service will connect the rural communities in and between Blaine County and Twin Falls to essential medical centers.

Mountain Rides seeks advisory committee members who are familiar with the ‘travel burdens’ associated with securing regular and critical transportation to/from Twin Falls.

The purposes of the advisory committee are to:

• Represent the future riders of the non-emergency medical transportation pilot service

• Inform the project’s communications and community engagement processes

• Offer feedback about the pilot service plan/design

• Act as spokespeople for the transportation need and the pilot service For the advisory committee.

Mountain Rides aims to include people living with disabilities, older adults and those who have first- or second-hand experience with the travel burdens that cancer, dialysis, and rehabilitation patients encounter when accessing care in Twin Falls.

Additionally, Mountain Rides welcomes the perspectives of people who will connect to the route from Carey, Fairfield, Shoshone, and Gooding.

For more information, call or e-mail Cece Osborn, the mobility and safe routes coordinator, at 208.788.7433 x.104 or cece@mountainrides.org. The initial committee meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 5.