Pinellas County Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Program

Through its TD Program, the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) provides transportation services to transportation disadvantaged persons and to eligible Medicaid recipients. The MPO contracts with Greater Pinellas Transportation Management Services (GPTMS) to take calls from program participants and schedule trips with the contracted providers.

Transportation Disadvantaged Services

How do I qualify for TD services?

To qualify as transportation disadvantaged and to receive TD Program services, a person must have no means of transportation available, including family or friends, and have an income that is equal to or less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which is currently $1,702 for a one-person household and $2,282 for a two-person household. A TD Program application is required and can be obtained by clicking on one of these links: Online Form, Word or Adobe PDF or by calling (727) 545-2100. Cuestionario de Evaluación del Programa Falta de Medios de Transporte. Applications should be mailed or faxed to GPTMS at the address listed below. Notification of application approval or denial should be received by the applicant within 10-14 days of receipt by GPTMS.

Mail or fax applications to:

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
13825 Icot Blvd #613
Clearwater, FL 33760

FAX: 727-544-0171

What kinds of trips are eligible?

The first priority for transportation services is for trips to medical facilities including physicians, dentists, hospitals, dialysis centers, health departments, mental health clinics, support groups, adult day care centers, optometrists, hearing aid clinics, and pharmacies. Transportation is also provided for trips to the grocery stores, foods stamp/HRS offices, nutritional dining sites, utility companies to pay bills, social security offices and banks. Transportation for employment purposes is primarily covered through the bus pass program. Trips to and from educational training programs designed to lead to or maintain employment are currently provided on a limited basis, depending on availability of funding.

What type of transportation is available?

For those who will have multiple trips per month and are able to access the public transportation system, a 31-day bus pass will be provided. For those who are traveling to or from a destination that is more than 1 mile from a bus route or for those who live within a mile but can provide doctor's certification of a medical reason why they are unable to ride the bus, transportation via taxi cab or wheelchair accessible vehicle will be provided. Download and print the doctor certification form here: PDF Version or Word Version

How much do the transportation services cost?

For the bus pass program, a 31-day bus pass will be provided each month to participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a regular bus pass, a $4.20 co-pay in the form of a money order is required. If participants have a Medicare card or a PSTA Special Citizens ID Card and can provide a copy, a $1.00 co-pay in the form of a money order is required. Money orders must include the program participant's name on them and be mailed in advance to GPTMS at the address provided below. Please fill out the bus pass application online or print the Word Version or PDF Version version and mail/fax in.

For those receiving transportation via taxi cab or wheelchair accessible vehicle, the co-pay is $3.00 for one-way trip. This co-pay is due in cash to the driver at the time of the ride. The driver will not provide transportation until $3.00 is paid.

Mail bus pass co-pays to:

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
13825 Icot Blvd #613
Clearwater, FL 33760

Once approved for the TD Program, how do I schedule a trip by taxi cab or wheelchair vehicle?

To schedule a trip, call GPTMS at 727-545-2100 at least 48-hours BEFORE service is actually needed. The reservationists will ask for your name and social security number, which provider you would like (Taxis - United Cab or Yellow Cab; Wheelchair Vans - CareRide, VIP Wheelchair Transport, or Wheelchair Transport Service), the address where you will be picked up, the address where you will be going, and the desired pick-up time. The pick-up time window for the drivers is between one-hour before the scheduled pick-up time and twenty minutes after. Be sure to schedule your pick-up time early enough to account for this pick-up window and the travel time to your destination.

If you will need a return trip but can not provide a pick-up time (i.e. after a doctor's appointment), the trip will be handled as will-call. When you are ready to be picked up, call the provider directly, let them know that it is a return trip for the MPO TD program, and a driver will be dispatched as soon as possible.

Transportation Disadvantaged Online Application
Cuestionario de Evaluación del Programa Falta de Medios de Transporte
Bus Pass Application