Transportation Opens Doors

For many seniors, mobility and transportation only become harder with age. Simple tasks like visiting the doctor, getting groceries, or just connecting with family and friends become challenging. At TransNet (Suburban Transit Network, Inc.), we take pride in giving seniors in Montgomery County, PA, their independence back—and we’ve been doing it for more than three decades. 

TransNet’s Senior Shared Ride program provides an affordable transportation option to County residents who are 60 years of age or older. Many of our riders are dialysis patients who rely on our services to get critical, life-sustaining care. Others just want to remain active and use our services to go shopping, visit the local senior center, or spend a day with friends. Our employees often talk about how fulfilling it is to make a difference in the lives of our riders, but nobody knows that feeling better than our dedicated drivers.

Meet Jackie – A dedicated driver

Jackie works for Easton Coach Company, one of five transportation companies in the TransNet family. She has been with the company for 24 years and spent most of that time as a driver. When asked about her experiences, she immediately launched into stories about her most memorable riders. 

Jackie first recalls a gentleman who needed to go to dialysis three times a week. His dialysis center was more than 30 minutes away. “That’s a long ride each way only to sit for hours on a dialysis machine,” said Jackie. “He was weak and in poor health, but you would never know it. That man was always in good spirits. He always brought joy to my day.”  

With a chuckle and a smile, Jackie then recalls a small, unassuming gentleman who surprised her with his wit and charm. “He befriended the other riders and talked endlessly about his love of the Phillies,” said Jackie. “He told me his wife didn’t drive and, had it not been for TransNet, his son would have had to disrupt his life to take him to doctor visits,” remembered Jackie. “That’s when I realized that our services provide a benefit far beyond the rider.”  

“You get to know and care for your riders. To some, you’re their escape from loneliness and depression,” said Jackie. “What I didn’t expect when I took this job was just how much I would learn from them.”

While Jackie says she has stayed in this job for the riders, she also loves working for Easton Coach Company/TransNet. “The companies genuinely care about their employees,” said Jackie. “When my husband passed, they told me to take as much time as I needed, that my job would be waiting for me. They kept that promise.” 

She went on to say that personal recognition and growth have also kept her loyal. Jackie is now lead dispatcher for the Easton Coach Company fleet.

If you would like more information on TransNet’s Shared Ride program or other available services, please visit suburbantransit.org. Want to become a driver? Check out the Employment section of the site.