The Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) in Flint, Mich., says it will expand its “Ride to Groceries” service by deploying nine more propane autogas vans in Genesee County, starting today.
According to the MTA, the Ride To Groceries initiative is a pilot program that services Flint eastside residents through a call-in service and limited-access bus route, enabling greater access to healthy foods and full-service grocery stores in areas that the MTA describes as “food deserts.”
Featuring dedicated autogas fuel systems by Roush CleanTech, these new vehicles can fit 10 to 12 passengers and have special racks for grocery bags. The vans will also have specialty wraps, purchased by Michigan’s Health Alliance Plan (HAP), to designate the propane vehicles assigned to the Your Ride service centers.
According to Ed Benning, the general manager and CEO of the MTA, this deployment is a different approach to the current groceries service offering, as the autogas vehicles come right to residents’ homes.
“Statistics show that over 4,000 people in the City of Flint are isolated in their homes. These people need access to groceries and healthcare, and MTA is working to address this issue,” he says.
Operating seven days a week, the service will cost $3.50 each way or $2.25 for seniors and the disabled and covers Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Mt. Morris, Otisville and Swartz Creek.
