Northwest Regional Transportation
Coordination Council
The Mission of the NWRTCC is to SUPPORT improved access and options for transportation services in Northwestern MN through communication and creative partnerships.
Transportation is about more than improving individual lives; it is about improving all facets of our state’s economy, culture, and communities. Reliable transportation is a prerequisite for a healthy economy and is often the first step toward independence and opportunity for people with low incomes, older adults, and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, a multitude of funding programs and requirements across dozens of departments and agencies make transportation coordination and communication a daunting task. To unravel this complex web, transportation coordination and cooperation is necessary. When representatives of different agencies and organizations involved in transportation programs work together, they can increase capacity to serve unmet needs, improve quality of service, improve understanding and access to services by the public, and achieve more cost-effective service delivery.
The workplan consists of seven tasks that were identified by Minnesota Council on Transportation Access.
THE WORK PLAN
NWRDC Newsletter
NWRDC Region One
Local Human Services
Transit Coordination Plan
Transportation
Provider Guide
WHO YA GONNA CALL?
TRANSIT IN GREATER MN
01
Transportation Guidance & Consultation
02
Vehicle Sharing
03
Stakeholder & Community Engagement
04
Volunteer Drivers
05
Training & Education
06
Integrating Mobility Management
07
MCOTA Participation
Northwest RTCC
Serves the counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau
Greater Minnesota Regional Transportation
Coordination Councils Program
The Minnesota Departments of Transportation and Human Services, in collaboration with other state agencies through the Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA), working with local governments and organizations have created Regional Transportation Coordinating Councils (RTCCs) as appropriate throughout Greater Minnesota.
The Northwest Regional Transportation Coordination Council (NWRTCC) serves Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties in northwestern Minnesota. The NWRTCC is composed of members from various social services, transportation agencies, and human service organizations within the region. The intention is to include representatives from a wide range of agencies and interests with board membership involving representatives from:
County Departments of Social Services
Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging
Workforce Development
Transportation Providers
Human Services Non-Profit Organizations
Transportation and Human Services Advocates
Veteran Service Organizations
Managed Care Providers
Centers for Independent Living
Other Funders of Transportation Services.
The purpose of the NWRTCC is to identify transportation barriers and develop solutions. The goal is to increase coordination between transportation providers, service agents, and the private sector. These partnerships help to fill transportation gaps, improve access to transportation and provide individuals more options.
We encourage coordination between providers of transportation services.
We help to facilitate public awareness of available transportation options and how to access resources in the community. NWRTCC advises the NWRDC on planning, policy, and other matters related to the provision of transportation services.
Volunteer Driver Opportunities
Volunteer drivers are essential to meet the human service transportation needs of our local communities. They provide an alternative form of transportation for residents when public transportation may not fit their needs. Volunteer drivers may use their own vehicles or be trained to drive agency vehicles. Volunteer Driver Programs are able to serve local residents who need to go beyond Region 1 and typical public transit hours.
A wide variety of organizations utilize volunteer drivers. They also provide a wide variety of trips, ranging from non-emergency medical appointments to trips to work or school, to general errands or other unspecified purposes. Organizations in every county within the region are seeking volunteer drivers.
Tri-Valley Rural Transportation
Paul Bunyan Transit
Disabled America Veterans
County Veteran Service Offices
County Social Service Offices
Meals On Wheels
Living At Home Senior Services
Tri-Valley Rural Transportation
Addiction Treatment Centers
Domestic Violence Shelters
Religious Organizations
and More
EQUITY STATEMENT
"Equitable and safe access to transportation is a civil right. Transportation touches every part of American lives and makes the American Dream possible, getting people and goods to where they need to be, directly and indirectly creating good-paying jobs and helping improve quality of life, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic."
(A)
The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.
(B)
The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied the full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of “equity.”
We seek to share power by engaging a diverse group of people and perspectives, including their voices and respecting their culture, to create practice and policy that reflects their values.
RIGHTS UNDER TITLE VI NOTIFICATION
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other Federal financial assistance. Programs that receive Federal funds cannot distinguish among individuals on the basis of race, color or national origin, either directly or indirectly, in the types, quantity, quality or timeliness of program services, aids or benefits that they provide or the manner in which they provide them.
Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC) operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with NWRDC.
For more information on NWRDC civil rights program and the procedure to file a complaint, contact NWRDC:
P | (218) 745-6733
E | darla@nwrdc.org
109 S Minnesota Street
Warren, MN
MnDOT Contact Information:
Title VI Specialist
MnDOT, Office of Civil Rights, MS 170
395 John Ireland Blvd
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-1899
P | (651) 366-3322
F | (651) 366-3129
A complainant may file a complaint directly with:
Minnesota Department of Human Rights
190 E. 5th Street, Ste 700
Saint Paul, MN 55101
P | (651) 296-5663
