A New Transportation Option in Town for Seniors

CoastalCT Senior Transportation, Inc. recently signed on as the fifteenth affiliate of the Independent Transportation Network, also known as ITNAmerica.   

The group will provide transportation in private automobiles in 2010 in Westport, Wilton, Weston, Easton, Fairfield and Norwalk.  Trained volunteers help older adults remain independent by driving them to appointments, shopping or even out for lunch. 

It is a membership program with pre-paid transportation accounts for individuals or families.  Now in its fourteenth year, ITN recreates the comfort and convenience of private auto ownership and will supplement the existing transportation options available in these mid-Fairfield County towns. This service is for people over 60 and visually-impaired adults. 

"The community organization was formed with volunteers just a year ago because of the high need transportation for additional transportation choices for seniors in our area," says Leslie Wolf, President of the ITNCoastalCT.  "It ranks as the number one issue for older adults. Everyone wants to remain active without relying on relatives and friends.  Studies point to the ITNAmerica model as a solution."

ITNAmerica was founded by Katherine Freund, who has been named "one of the twelve people who are changing your retirement" by the Wall Street Journal.

In 1988, her three-year-old son was struck by a car driven by an 84 year old driver.  Freund became dedicated to identifying an alternative to driving that older people would find attractive and that would approximate what they are giving up. Since its inception with ITNPortland, the volunteer-driven transportation system has expanded to fourteen sites in eleven states. ITNCoastalCT is the fifteenth affiliate. 

For more information, please contact Leslie Wolf at 203-856-3737.