Transportation Options
What are Transportation Options?
Seniors are likely to have less mobility as they age due to decreased physical ability. Transportation options alternative to cars can ensure seniors can continue to stay connected to amenities and social networks.
Approaches Met
Help seniors age-in-place
Many seniors live in residential neighborhoods that require automobile use, additional transportation options can help seniors to remain in their homes and stay connected.
Develop housing options for seniors to age-in-community
Public transportation options can lower the use of automobiles, decreased parking needs can facilitate lower cost and more diverse housing options.
Facilitate multigenerational and shared housing
Ensuring adequate parking is often a barrier to shared housing, creating transportation alternatives to automobiles can help to make shared housing feasible.
Keep seniors physically and socially connected
Transportation options keep seniors physically connected.
Create a range of price options for housing
Decreasing the need for parking can decrease construction costs.
Make it Happen
- On Demand Bussing — Communities can distribute information about Chester County's on demand bussing program ROVER. Communities can also encourage additional private on demand transportation programs for seniors.
- Transportation facilities — Communities can ensure that facilities such as train and bus stops have good lighting, seating, clear signage, pedestrian connections, and are accessible.
- Subsidized Transportation — Communities can help to distribute information about SEPTA's free senior transportation option.
- Communities can encourage the development of missing middle, and medium and high density housing near existing public transportation.
- Communities can create pedestrian connections between residential neighborhoods and existing public transportation.
Transportation Options in Practice
Free Transit SEPTA, PA
Citizens aged 65 and older ride free on SEPTA Transit Routes (Bus, Trolley, Trackless Trolley, Broad Street/Broad Ridge Spur Line, Market Frankford Line/Norristown High Speed Line).
ROVER, Chester County, PA
ROVER is an on-demand bus service serving residents of all ages in Chester County. Service is scheduled via reservation up to 30 days in advance. ROVER will drive out of Chester County for medical trips.
Find Out More
- Transportation: What Caregivers Need to Know, AARP An article about how to help your loved one get around when you can't provide a ride.
- Roadmap to Livability, AARP Toolkit to assist communities to plan for senior transportation.
- AARP Transportation Archives Link to articles and resources for transportation for seniors.
- Multi-modal Circulation Handbook for Chester County, Chester County Planning Commission This is a consolidated reference guide developed by the CCPC on how to incorporate all transportation modes into contemporary land development site design.