Recognizing the need to expand access to public transportation services in the Northwoods, Ascension Wisconsin recently made a $10,000 donation to Northwoods Transit Connections.
Northwoods Transit Connections currently provides local transportation services in the Rhinelander, Lakeland and Eagle River areas where Ascension operates hospitals, clinics and provides at home services.
Director at Northwoods Transit Connection, Roger Youngren, says a large number of riders use the bus to go to medical appointments...
"...I appealed to them because roughly 20 percent of our ridership goes to medical appointments. Whether in Rhinelander, Lakeland or Eagle River. We cater to the elderly and disabled. There are many appointments that are scheduled for doctors, follow ups and that kind of thing. When we introduced three new routes in 2019, I appealed to them to help us out..."
Sandy Anderson, president of Ascension’s four hospitals in the Northwoods, said they knew transportation is often a barrier for people seeking medical care and said the support provides better access for patients.
Youngren says Nicolet College also donated earlier this year to help their students get rides to the campus in Rhinelander.
Northwoods Transit Connections is the operating arm for the Oneida-Vilas Transit Commission, a partnership between Oneida and Vilas counties to provide public transportation in under-served areas.
