Regional Transportation Program

Regional Transportation Program, inc. (rtp) was founded in 1976 and is designated as a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organization. Rtp's exempt purpose is to provide Transportation for the handicapped, elderly and low-income individuals throughout cumberland county, Maine, who, because of infirmity or location, are unable to use the mass transit service for Transportation. Rtp provides Transportation through two basic vehicle modes: the mini- bus/van Program with taxi backup and by volunteers who use their own vehicles and are reimbursed by a mileage rate. Since rtp is designated as a Regional Transportation corporation supported with federal and state transit funds, the agency also provides public Transportation based on availability of vehicles and funding. The mini-bus/van Program is normally comprised of 24 passenger vehicles. In fy 2022, the ongoing pandemic still affected ridership. Accordingly, the bus/van Program provided only 48,929 passenger trips measuring 347,800 passenger miles, while the volunteers and taxis provided 16,319 passenger trips measuring 389,812 passenger miles. In total, the agency provided 67,614 passenger trips and 752,578 passenger miles. In december 2013, rtp launched its lakes region public bus service which provides three round trips along route 302 each weekday between bridgton and portland. This service provided 5,503 trips in fy 2022. Rtp receives funds from the local united way and serves several governmental and social service agencies including: the department of health and human services for clients funded by Maine care and the bureau of child and family services, etc. Rtp also receives funding from a number of cities and towns throughout cumberland county for transit service. Effective august 1, 2013, the state of Maine instituted a Maine care brokerage system. As a result, rtp now only delivers bus, van and volunteer Transportation for Maine care riders while the broker has taken the other Maine care administrative functions including: the friends and family Program, issuance of bus passes and billing Maine care for community service agencies that perform their own Transportation. Rtp's main informational resource is on the internet and provides comprehensive information about the organization. The agency's web site is www.rtprides.org.