and the transportation aspect began almost right away. We were providing door-to-door services to take seniors to and from adult daycare programs and a couple other places in the county, like medical appointments.” The organization’s transportation role expanded significantly in 1992 when it was designated as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Indian River County. As the population grew, so did the need for public transportation. What began as a few routes eventually became Indian River Transit, which later evolved into today’s GoLine. Chris Stephenson, Director of Transportation at Senior Resource Association, points out how far they’ve come: “When Karen came on board it was a very antiquated system that she’s really helped bring into the 21st century.” When Deigl assumed leadership in 2006, the system provided approximately 250,000 trips annually. What started as five designated fixed routes has multiplied into a network that operates throughout Indian River County. “We now have 14 routes, and 88 percent of the county’s residents live less than three-fourths of a mile from a bus stop” Deigl states with pride. The numbers tell a compelling story of growth. “We are currently providing 1.35 million trips a year on the GoLine. And our Community Coach provides about 49,000 door-to-door trips per year,” says Deigl. This expansion required thoughtful planning and execution. The team focused on removing transportation barriers and enhancing accessibility throughout the region, including Martin County, where SRA is also the CTC. By implementing easy to read route maps, color-coded lines, and numbered routes, they made the system intuitive for riders of all ages and backgrounds. Beyond geographic expansion, the services themselves have evolved. While GoLine provides fixed-route public transportation, Community Coach continues the organization’s original mission of providing paratransit services for the elderly and those with specific needs.This dual approach ensures comprehensive coverage for the entire community, maintaining SRA’s service to seniors and the broader public. TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY INNOVATIONS The leap from paper schedules to digital real-time tracking marks one of GoLine’s most significant advances. “We’ve evolved to where people can use our app to see bus locations in real time,” Stephenson explains. “”Someone doesn’t have to read a paper map and hope the bus is on time. They can stand by the bus stop and see where the bus is and how long until the bus gets to them.” 129 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03 SENIOR RESOURCE ASSOCIATION’S GOLINE TRANSIT
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