ST. LUCIE COUNTY – The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners accepted a $202,500 State of Florida Innovative Service Development Grant from the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged to expand transportation options for residents who need access to life-sustaining dialysis treatments outside regular transit service hours.

The Innovative Service Development Grant program is designed to fund cost-effective and time-efficient transportation solutions for individuals who qualify as transportation disadvantaged under Florida law. St. Lucie County’s awarded project will establish a dedicated after-hours dialysis transportation service for residents whose treatment schedules fall outside the operating hours of the county’s traditional demand response transit system.

Currently, many dialysis patients face limited transportation options due to early morning, late afternoon or holiday appointment times. The new service will reduce wait times before and after treatment, limit extended travel times caused by multiple pickups and provide a more flexible, patient-centered transportation option tailored to complex medical needs.

“This grant allows us to address a critical gap in service for some of our most vulnerable residents,” said St. Lucie County Transit Director Adolfo Covelli. “By providing dedicated transportation for dialysis patients outside normal operating hours, we are improving access to essential medical care while delivering a more efficient and compassionate service model.”

With a required local match of $22,500 from the county, the total project investment equals $225,000. Funding will support operating costs only and will be used to purchase transportation trips for eligible riders through June 30.

Accepting the grant aligns with the Board of County Commissioners’ strategic mobility goals and supports the state’s objective of increasing access to daily activities, including medical care, for transportation-disadvantaged individuals. By leveraging state funding, the county can expand service options while minimizing the impact on local resources.

For more information about St. Lucie County’s public transportation services, including eligibility requirements and rider resources, visit the St. Lucie County Area Regional Transit (ART) site.