Our mission is to increase transportation options for older adults and enhance their ability to live more independently within their communities throughout the United States.

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About NCST

About NCST

Mission

To increase transportation options for older adults and enhance their ability to live more independently within their communities throughout the United States.

Goals

To achieve the mission through the development, collection and distribution of information and resources for use by communities, transportation providers, state and local governments, aging and human service providers, and older adults and their caregivers. Technical assistance, research toward solutions, strategic communications and building partnerships among stakeholders are additional functions of the center.

Structure

The NCST is administered by Easter Seals Inc., in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Staff are located in the Washington, D.C., offices of Easter Seals and n4a. Additional team members are The National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA), the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the Beverly Foundation. Also guiding NCST work is a national steering committee of experts in senior transportation issues.

Funding

The center is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. The budget was $2 million in 2006-07, $1 million in 2007-08.

History

At the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, delegates selected transportation as the third most important priority of today’s older adults right under reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (No. 1) and matters pertaining to long-term care. It is well-recognized that communities across the nation are striving to help older individuals stay healthy, stay connected, and enjoy “aging in place.” Transportation services are – quite literally – a vital link to those goals. The center was established and announced as “open for business” on Aug. 8, 2006.