To Provide Rural Transportation Services In Erie County

Description

ERIE COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO PROVIDE Rural Transportation Services in Erie County RFP #2026-055VF October 20, 2026 Daniel Castle, AICP, Commissioner Department of Environment and Planning EDWARD A. RATH COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING 95 FRANKLIN STREET BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202 COUNTY OF ERIE, NEW YORK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (“RFP”) RFP# 2026-055VF TO PROVIDE Rural Transportation Services in Erie County I. INTRODUCTION The County of Erie, New York (the “County”) is currently seeking qualified Not-For-Profit (NFP) agencies interested in providing Rural Transit Services in Erie County. The objective of this proposal is to select a qualified NFP organization to administer, operate and maintain the Rural Transit Service (RTS) in Erie County. Community vans shall operate in the following areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Evans, Angola, Brant and Farnham Collins, Gowanda, North Collins (Town and Village) Concord and Springville Boston, Colden, and Eden Holland and Sardinia Orchard Park (Town and Village) Aurora, East Aurora, Elma, Marilla and Wales Clarence, Newstead, and Akron Reserve (back-up) van Vans are housed at various municipal garages and light duty servicing is performed by several of these towns at cost, reimbursable as part of operating costs under the Community Development grant. Beginning in early 1988 the “United Way of Erie County” carried out an extensive Needs Survey of Erie County. Public Transportation Services were identified as top priority especially in rural portions of the County where no such service existed. The target group for the Transportation Service consisted of income eligible rural residents who do not have access to private automobiles as well as the elderly and disabled. Because the Rural Transportation Service receives funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the HUD income guidelines are used to determine eligibility of non-elderly and non-handicapped persons for the service. The elderly and handicapped are eligible as limited clientele upon proof of age or disability. Priority for the demand responsive system goes to medical trips followed by social service and shopping destinations. In September, 1990 a Project Coordinator was hired to set up the pilot programs in the Towns of Evans and Concord in cooperation with the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, and Senior Services.