NCRTD News:

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) will launch expanded demand and paratransit operations in northern Santa Fe County and areas surrounding Taos beginning Monday, Jan. 25.

In Española, demand service is offered within a 15-mile radius from the Española Transit Center (on Paseo de Oñate), within Rio Arriba County only. This now allows the District to service sections of Santa Fe County within that 15-mile radius as well.

That will expand the service to communities such as Chimayo, La Puebla, El Valle de Arroyo Seco, La Mesilla, Pueblo de San Ildefonso, Pojoaque and El Rancho.

In Taos, the Chile Ride paratransit and demand service will offer rides within a 2 mile service area from the 340 Chile Red route, expanding the service from the current 0.75 miles. Additional communities to be served will now include El Prado, Talpa, Ranchito, Llano Quemado, Cañon and expanded areas within Taos Pueblo.

Demand service allows riders to call and schedule a curb to curb, home to destination ride 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within the designated service area. ADA complementary Paratransit service is provided to individuals who have been qualified with an assessed disability, are unable to independently ride a bus, get on or off a bus, or get to and from a bus stop. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance and are on a first come, first served basis.

The increased services are part of a New Mexico Department of Transportation pilot program that seeks to improve mobility access in rural communities to benefit the elderly and children. It also seeks to provide transportation services to get people to treatment centers for substance use disorder and recovery and as a diversion from incarceration to help speed recovery process.

For information, visit RidetheBlueBus.com, call 505.629.4725 ext. 2, or toll-free 866.206.0754 ext. 2.