Free door-to-door service throughout the region from home to work for healthcare providers is now being provided by Metro Mobility 24/7, according to an announcement from the Metropolitan Council.
The Metropolitan Council says it is using its resources to provide a safe and stress-free trip for frontline healthcare workers. This effort comes as doctors, nurses, home health aides, clinic staff, janitorial and all other healthcare support staff put their lives on the line to bring Minnesotans through the COVID-19 outbreak. With Metro Transit service reductions, Metropolitan Council says it understands those who are dependent on transit to reach their jobs may not have the transit access they previously had.
“Across the state, Minnesotans are stepping up to protect and support one another through this unprecedented crisis,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “I am proud that the Metropolitan Council is taking action to offer door-to-door transportation for the region’s health care staff, which ensures our frontline workers can travel safely where they need to be.”
This new service will provide solo or very small group on-demand rides for essential healthcare workers to and from work and home, improving physical distancing for them on transit.
“For more than 50 years, the Metropolitan Council has been committed to being a regional solution for regional problems,” said Charlie Zelle, chair of the Metropolitan Council. “Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical services to those who need them most. Our strengths lie in getting people safely where they need to go, and right now, our health care heroes need protected, reliable transportation. We are honored to provide this service.”
To participate, essential healthcare workers need to provide their employee identification badge that shows they are employed in a healthcare facility. These trips will all be following state guidelines for physical distancing and will only transport as many customers as is safe for the vehicle. Drivers are taking extra time to wipe down interior touch points with disinfectant after each passenger trip and buses pull into the shop for sanitization at least daily.
Scheduling trips
The system is set up to provide rides anywhere throughout the seven-county region. Healthcare workers need to call the number associated with their home address to schedule a ride. Tell the reservationist their name and that they are a healthcare worker, where to pick them up and drop them off, and what day and time.
Healthcare workers can schedule a ride up to four days in advance, although the Metropolitan Council says it will try to accommodate same day requests whenever possible. As service demands allow, the goal is that each bus will arrive within 20 minutes of the agreed-upon pick-up time.
Changes or cancellations should be made at least one hour in advance.
