San Mateo County launches new resource center for seniors, ADA riders

San Carlos, California’s San Mateo County Transit District launched the San Mateo County Mobility Resource Center — a new informational program designed to match older adults and those with accessibility needs with transportation services that best fit their needs.

The resource center is a one-stop shop providing customers with free mobility assessment services either over the phone or online using the interactive “Find Your Ride” tool to identify compatible transportation services in San Mateo County. The resource center expands upon the information provided by the annually published Senior Mobility Guide.

In addition to transportation service matching, the online resource center provides information on staying fit, safe driving, veteran services, and more. District staff are coordinating with local organizations and senior centers that support seniors to educate potential users of the service.

“It is critical that our growing population of older adults have easy access to public transportation resources they need,” said April Chan, chief officer, planning, grants and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. “The Mobility Resource Center is one piece of that larger effort, which we are working to address in partnership with local community organizations.”

The District’s new Mobility Resource Center comes at a time when San Mateo County’s older adult population (ages 65-plus) currently sits at about 114,770, roughly 15% of the county’s overall population. The proportion of older adults in San Mateo County is projected to rise by 82% by the year 2040. In that same time, the number of residents over the age of 75 is expected to more than double.