MOUNT VERNON — Joe Porter is good at keeping secrets, but there is one he does not mind sharing. In fact, he wants to shout it from the rooftop.
The secret is the concept of mobility management: managing and delivering coordinated transportation services to customers, including older adults, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and those with lower incomes.
As the county’s mobility manager, Porter works to define mobility barriers and then find resources to overcome those barriers.
“The further you get from Mount Vernon, the less people know about the service,” he said.
“We have barriers for mobility and transportation, and one of the barriers is that overall, I don’t think we’ve gotten the word out.”
Porter drove a Knox Area Transit van for three years. As a mobility shuttle driver for the last two-and-a-half, he transported 15 to 20 riders a day who used wheelchairs.
“You see the things they struggle with,” he said. “We have folks who will ride who don’t have anyone else to talk to, so they talk to the KAT drivers.”
For those who use wheelchairs or walkers, those “things” — aka barriers — include snow-covered and uneven sidewalks and lack of sidewalks. For others, barriers include lack of after-hours service, logistics of return trips, cost, and simply knowing who to call.
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Another barrier is that people are getting heavier, and wheelchairs are getting bigger. Porter noted that some wheelchairs can barely fit on the lifts on KAT vehicles.
Additionally, individuals with medical conditions are trying to overcome mobility barriers to live independently.
“We have an older demographic that doesn’t have family nearby, so they are limited on where they can go,” Porter said.
“A lot of the issues with independent living relate to mobility,” he continued. “My primary role is to reach out and get that information. To find people with barriers and do everything we can to get a solution.”
Getting out the word
In addition to identifying barriers, Porter tries to get the word out about existing resources and programs.
For example, the Food for the Hungry grant program allocated $2,000 to cover the transportation cost to any food pantry, hot meal, or farmers market in the county.
Or The Station Break, which transports seniors over age 60 to and from the grocery store and other destinations. Porter acknowledged the agency has some limitations.
“The Station Break will transport you for no charge. They do accept a donation,” he said.
“KAT is overwhelmed, The Station Break is underutilized. The Station Break is a resource in Knox County that people don’t seem to be aware of.”
“Mobility management is not only about getting wheels under somebody and getting from Point A to Point B, but it’s also removing the barriers for people to get where they need to be.”
Joe Porter, mobility manager
For those using a wheelchair who cannot transfer, KAT and Apple Lane Transportation are resources. Apple Lane transports for medical appointments only.
Elite Transportation Group is a resource for riders who can transfer independently. While it requires more planning, the privately owned company can transport for medical trips or to the theater or airport.
The NET program through Knox County Job & Family Services is a resource for individuals who qualify by income. The transportation source must be a Medicaid provider; currently, the only one in the county is KAT.
KCJFS also has vouchers for people who need help getting to mental health appointments or jobs.
“We have people who have a need. We have people who have the resources to meet that need, but it takes someone to bring it all together,” Porter said. “That’s what I do.”
Communication and planning
Porter said communication is critical to finding those who need help, identifying their barriers, and connecting resources to the need. He also emphasized that planning is a significant part of mobility management.
“If there is a significant or half-way significant impact because of Intel, it only stands to reason that transportation and mobility needs are going to change as well. So let’s start planning,” Porter said.
“Licking County and COTA are already working together. Could Licking County and Knox County start working together?”
Referencing how townships and the Village of Centerburg consolidated to create the Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Porter said, “Shouldn’t mobility management work the same way? Shouldn’t we all be working together to a common goal?”
The former fire chief noted that mobility management is more than access to food, work, or doctors.
“It involves trails, recreation, and river access off of the river,” he said. “It’s also about quality of life.”
For more information about services, finding a ride, or financially supporting transportation costs, contact Porter at 740-485-5002 or josephporter@co.knox.oh.us.