The history of transportation coordination efforts in Ohio has been long and varied. Coordination has been and continues to be encouraged in all Federal funding programs, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been involved in a number of initiatives since the mid-1980s. Transportation coordination has not been mandated in Ohio; voluntary efforts at the state level and by local community leaders and human service agency representatives have been encouraged.

ODOT awards grants to fund capital projects for human service transportation coordination projects in local communities. These funds are available to urbanized and non-urbanized areas. ODOT also leads the Statewide Transportation Coordination Task Force, whose goals are to remove barriers at the state level to facilitate coordination efforts at the local level and to exchange information on related programs and efforts. The Statewide Transportation Coordination Task Force continues to meet quarterly and will renew its efforts to reduce specific barriers to coordination.

ODOT and other Task Force members provide technical assistance to areas pursuing coordination as well as those who are already coordinating but experience barriers. Task Force members attend bi-monthly meetings for Ohio Coordination Program recipients to share best practices and resolve issues. The evidence of Ohio's transportation coordination achievements can be seen in the reduction of 42 to 14 counties with no public transportation or coordination project.

When transportation works, Ohio works.

Rose is 84 years young. Though she is an Ohio native, she has spent many years serving her country through various projects and in many locations.

However, since 1999, Rose has been without a means of transportation, and was afraid that as a result she would have to move out of the home she owned. Rose is legally blind and has a pilot dog, a Labrador retriever named Tory, who accompanies her wherever she goes, which until recently was only to the doctor's office.

Yet as a result of Licking County Transit's Board coordination efforts, through Rides 4 You, Rose can now get to the store, attend her meeting with the Daughters of the American Revolution, and take the arthritis exercise classes she missed so much at the YMCA. "My life has changed," Rose says, "and now I am so happy." "The people who operate the system are like angels from heaven!" Now Rose has her life back again, along with her cherished independence.