Beyond the City Limits: Mobility Solutions for Rural Areas
Beyond the City Limits
MobilitySolutionsforRuralAreas
January 27, 2026
What is Florida’s Coordinated Transportation
Disadvantaged Program?
A state initiative ensuring access to transportation for individuals who are unable to transport themselves due to:
§ Age
§ Disability
§ Income Status
§ At Risk Children
Established in 1979, under Chapter 427, Florida Statutes.
Managed by the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD).
Coordinated Transportation System Organization
Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD)
Oversees the Statewide program
Planning Agencies (MPOs/RPCs/BOCCs/Other planning related agencies)
Integrates coordination into transportation planning
Local Coordinating Boards (LCBs)
Guides county -level needs and priorities
Community Transportation Coordinators (CTCs)
Manages, operates and/or provides local transportation services
Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged : Statelevel policy board for the coordination of transportation services.
Coordinated Transportation Disadvantaged Program Concept
Designates
Official Planning Agency: Metropolitan Planning Organization or Other Designated Planning Agency.
Recommends CTC to
Purchasing Agencies: State agencies involved in or fund transportation services for their clients.
Buys trips from
Appoints and Staffs
Local Coordinating Board: Identifies local service needs, provides guidance for coordination of services.
Community Transportation Coordinator: Entity responsible for coordinating transportation services within a designated area.
Contracts with Bills
Operators: Entities that provide transportation services.
Provides services to
Transportation Disadvantaged Persons: Persons who because of disability, age or income are unable to transport themselves.
Also, may provide direct services
Monitors
The Commission
Governance Membership
Chapter 427, Florida Statutes - Part I –
Transportation Services
• Independent State Agency, assigned to FDOT for administrative and fiscal purposes
• Develops own budget – transmitted by FDOT to Governor
• Accountable to the Governor and Legislature
• Complies with State and Federal laws, reviews and audits
Chapter 41-2, Florida Administrative Code –
Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged
Eleven members appointed by Governor
• Department of Transportation
• Agency for Persons with Disabilities
• Department of Elderly Affairs
• Division of Blind Services
• Two county managers/administrators –
• 1 rural; 1 urban
• Five members with experience in transportation, workforce development, transit services, management, insurance or service of persons with disabilities or who have a disability and use transportation services.
The Commission
Purpose and Goal
Purpose:
To accomplish the coordination of transportation services provided to the transportation disadvantaged.
Goal:
To assure the cost-effective provision of transportation by qualified CTCs or transportation operators.
Strategies:
• Promote coordination among service providers
• Improve efficiency of transportation services
• Reduce duplication of services and costs
• Enhance access to healthcare, employment, education, and community activities
Duties
Appoints Executive Director and oversees staff in Tallahassee. Administers TD Trust Fund and grant programs that support TD Services.
Adopts policies and rules governing the Coordinated System.
Designates Community Transportation Coordinators (CTCs) and Planning Agencies in all 67 counties.
Collects data on TD service operations and presents Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature.
Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund
Estimated Revenues
HSMV (Initial, Renewal Tag Fees ($1.50)
HSMV (Voluntary Dollar)
HSMV (Temporary Parking Permit $5.00)
HSMV/DOT (Tag & Title)
DOT (District Dedicated Revenue)
DOT (Public Transit)
DOT (Public Transit)
DOT (State Trust Fund 15% Block Grant
FY 2025 - 2026
$64,492,310
$10,000,000 $371,976 $9,492 $26,192,366
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
$1,400,000
$18,515,115
$2,003,361
Grant Programs FY 2025-26
Planning Grant – $2 Million
Formula-based funding to support Planning Agencies’ responsibilities.
Trip & Equipment (T&E) Grant – $52.9 Million
Formula-based funding for CTCs in every county to provide "non-sponsored" paratransit services, bus pass subsidies, and capital equipment.
Rural Area Capital Assistance Grant – $1.4 Million
Competitive grant for CTCs to support the purchase of capital equipment.
Innovative Service Development (ISD) Grant – $6 Million
Competitive grant for CTCs and Non-traditional transportation providers to support innovative projects providing TD services.
CTD allocates funding (appropriated in Legislature) and executes grant agreements with CTCs and Planning Agencies.
Funds not expended by June 30 are “returned” to the TD Trust Fund.
TD Grant Allocations for Rural Counties
$10,678,152 Trip & Equipment Grants (287,367 Trips)
$866,930 Planning Agency Grants
$920,002 Shirley Conroy Rural Area Capital Grants (Vehicles and Software)
$656,270 Innovative Service Development Grants (12,407 Trips)
Why Coordination Matters for Rural Florida
• Rural communities face limited transit options, longer trip distances, and higher per-trip costs
• The TD Program maximizes limited resources through coordination
• Supports access to healthcare, employment, education, and nutrition
• Provides mobility where traditional transit is not feasible
• Strengthens local resilience and quality of life
Moving Beyond City Limits
• Rural mobility requires coordination, creativity, and partnership
• Florida’s TD Program provides a statewide model
• Planning decisions directly impact access, equity, and opportunity
• Together, we can ensure mobility for all Floridians — regardless of location
Visit CTD website at:
https://www.fdot.gov/ctd/ctd-home
Karen.Somerset@dot.state.fl.us
Mobility Solutions for Rural Areas
Marybeth
Soderstrom
Central Florida RPC
Heartland Regional TPO
DeSoto Hardee Highlands Okeechobee
Glades
Hendry
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Mobility Solutions for Rural Areas
Marybeth
Soderstrom
Central Florida RPC
Heartland Regional TPO