Agency on Aging breaks ground on new transit center

Western Montana Transit broke ground on its new building in Ronan Nov. 19. Located on Hwy. 93 across from Town Pump, the new structure will provide a central location for the department’s vehicles to be under cover, as well as a large community center room and five offices.

“We’re really excited to have place to call home where we can actually do our own scheduling and training,” said Lori Thibodeau-Seay, the area director of the Western Montana Area IV Agency on Aging.

The agency has 33 employees and includes Lake, Sanders, Mineral and Lincoln Counties; they also do business as Western Montana Aging Services. Western Montana Transit is under the agency’s umbrella, and currently operates nine vehicles, two of which are under contract with the Polson Senior Citizen’s Center.

Western Montana Transit serves Lake County and travels to Missoula and Kalispell, according to Thibodeau-Seay, and offers transportation on-demand.

Abby Luke is the transportation coordinator. There are seven drivers and three volunteer drivers. A person who wants a ride calls 24 hours before the trip if it’s in county and 48 hours before if it’s out of county.

“It’s affordable transportation, and it’s a huge service,” said Thibodeau-Seay. “We focus our services on aging people and disabled people, but anybody can get a ride.”

Currently, Western Montana Transit is seeking volunteers to ride along with seniors or post-op patients for medical visits. Those who are interested can call Luke at 406-676-2367.

Someone who’s boots-on-the-ground for Western Montana Transit is volunteer driver Tony Aweeka, who has driven for the organization for about three years. He got involved in volunteering and driving because “I was getting really isolated,” he says.

After his wife passed away, Aweeka moved to the area and didn’t have many friends here. So he volunteered for the Veteran’s Administration driving veterans to doctor’s appointment; he is a veteran himself and could relate to veterans well.

He now volunteers with Western Montana Transit, and says his driving duties help him engage with others.

“I meet a lot of people,” he said, explaining that people often need transportation to or from the store, to the doctor’s office, or home from the hospital. They might be home bound, injured, visually impaired, use a wheelchair, or can’t drive for various reasons.

He waits for his passengers to finish doctor appointments or shopping and then drives them home, which many transportation services do not.

“We’re pretty busy,” Aweeka said. “With five or six drivers picking people up, it’s more than I can remember us ever having.”

The new building will provide a less-cramped office space, will allow the drivers more room, and will keep the vans out of the weather so drivers won’t have to get there early to shovel snow and scrape the windshield.

Also, the new community area will give people a space to meet in Ronan, Thibodeau-Seay said.

The transit center is a big plus for drivers and their clients. However, it also means there’s some fundraising in Western Montana Transit’s future.

Thibodeau-Seay said American Rescue Plan Act funds will pay for 80% of the project, leaving the Transit Center to raise $60,000 to $70,000, or 20% of the cost. They’ll be looking for community partners and donations.

She’s planning a Casino Night in March and another fun event in June or July to help fill the coffers.