ACT: The Alliance for Community Transportation

ACT History/Overview

ACT was formed approximately 10 years ago as a collaborative effort by a wide variety of organizations and communities to improve community transportation. The organization’s initial efforts focused on access to health care in Strafford County. The creation of the Statewide Coordinating Council for Community Transportation (SCC) in 2007 (RSA 239-B) led to the delineation of 10 regions in the State for development of “regional coordinating councils” (RCC). ACT expanded its focus to include the 38 cities and towns in the Southeast NH region: eastern Rockingham County, all of Strafford County and two southern Carroll County communities.

ACT’s interest in and history of working to better coordinate community transportation services in southeastern New Hampshire led to its designation as the Regional Coordinating Council for Southeast New Hampshire in early 2010. The role of the RCC is to “facilitate the implementation of coordinated community transportation” and “encourage the development of improved and expanded regional community transportation services”.

Over the past several years ACT has secured private funding through the Endowment for Health and the United Way of the Greater Seacoast in support of its efforts, which included outreach and education. The Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST), which provides public transit services in the region, has been successful in obtaining Federal grant funds to support ACT’s efforts. COAST has been recognized as the RCC’s lead agency.

ACT members meet on the first Wednesday of each month, typically in Dover. Meeting information is posted on the COAST website: www.coastbus.org. Public participation is encouraged. Accommodation for persons with disabilities can be arranged through the contact noted below.

Click here for information about The Community Rides program. Volunteer drivers needed!