N.C.’s Greensboro Transit Agency announced MedLink, a new partnership with Cone Health to benefit commuters traveling for medical appointments and employment at Wesley Long Hospital.

A Cone-operated shuttle is operating on a coordinated schedule to meet inbound and outbound arrivals of GTA Route 7 Friendly Avenue. Riders can transfer to the free shuttle for “first/last mile” service, stopping at the main hospital entrance. The shuttle is available Monday to Friday and meet bus arrivals at 10 and 40 minutes after each hour.

“If you are having a medical test or leaving the hospital after a stay, walking even a short distance can be too much,” says Jamilla Pinder, assistant director of healthy communities, Cone Health. “We are grateful that GTA was open to exploring different ways of meeting our patient’s and our community’s needs.”

Recent enhancements in GTA services including Route 7 necessitated the relocation of the Wesley Long bus stop for greater system efficiency. Subsequent discussions between GTA and Cone Health led to the formation of the private/public partnership, which if successful, may result in additional opportunities to coordinate transportation services.

Cone Health has worked previously with GTA targeting transportation barriers to healthcare. In 2017, the Cone Health Foundation sponsored a free fare day that resulted in thousands of free rides on GTA, SCAT, and HEAT.