Crawfordsville Park and Recreation Director Fawn Johnson was on hand Tuesday at the Montgomery County Council meeting to share the city’s vision for a more accessible public transportation program.
The current Sunshine Van program is only for individuals who are at least 60 years old and disabled. Users are asked to make a donation to help cover costs. A proposed expansion to the program would allow passengers of all ages for a small fee.
The city has been awarded an Indiana Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $261,360 for county-wide public transit. There is a matching requirement of $261,360, which is being partially covered by existing Sunshine Van revenues from United Way, Area IV on Aging, Medicaid and local care facilities. The city has agreed to pay $120,000 of the required match leaving a balance of $21,204. Johnson asked the county council to pay the difference to complete the match.
The grant also can be used to purchase additional vehicles for the new program. Presently there are 11 vehicles, but Johnson wants to add a minimum of four vehicles to the fleet.
Montgomery County Councilwoman Joyce Grimble reacted positively to Johnson’s request calling the decision a “no-brainer.” No council member spoke against the monetary request.
The new program is scheduled to begin in January 2026. Service hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Rides will be for any resident needing transportation to any location within the county. As is the case with the present Sunshine Van program, rides will be provided to out-of-county medical facilities.
Passenger fairs will be set. The fees include $3 per one-way trip within five miles and $5 per one-way trip of six to 10 miles. An additional fare of $1 per mile will be charged for any trip above 10 miles.
The grant is a renewable grant which is important for the sustainability of the program in future years.
Johnson provided statistics from a completed survey that had 262 responses divided among those living in the city and those living in the county.
Nearly 88% responding to the survey said either they would use the program, or they know someone who would. Only 7.9% said they would not use the transit program.
It also was discovered only 81% of county respondents and 65% of city respondents drove a personal vehicle.
Respondents reported grocery shopping as the number one difficulty of not having access to a vehicle. Other top difficulties included: running errands, traveling to appointments outside of the county and going to medical appointments. Nearly 15% of the respondents within the city said it was difficult to go to work and 13.6% said they have difficulty attending worship services.
The number one destination in 2025 for the Sunshine vans was to to the Medicaid office and to medical and/or dialysis appointments.
Johnson said the matching funds can be paid in the beginning of 2026 allowing the council to place the amount in the 2026 budget.
