For many people, transportation will seem like a simple, everyday convenience. For individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people living on limited incomes, especially in rural Eastern Montana, transportation will determine whether independence is possible or whether isolation becomes unavoidable.
At Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT), this reality will be visible every day. When transportation is unavailable, medical appointments will be missed, preventive care will be delayed, employment opportunities will disappear, and people will become isolated in their own homes. Over time, the lack of mobility will directly affect health, safety, and overall quality of life.
That is why LIFTT is pleased to share that we will soon be launching RideWell, a new ADA accessible rural transportation program designed to serve communities across Eastern Montana.
Why RideWell Will Matter
LIFTT is a nonprofit Center for Independent Living serving aging adults and people with disabilities across 18 counties in Southeastern and South Central Montana. In many of these rural areas, public transportation does not exist. Distances between communities are vast, and a single medical appointment can require a round trip of more than 250 miles.
For individuals who use wheelchairs, cannot drive, or live on fixed incomes, those distances are not simply inconvenient. They are barriers that prevent access to essential care and services.
RideWell will be developed in direct response to these challenges. The program will be designed to ensure that people can reach essential medical care, maintain independence, and remain active members of their communities.
What RideWell Will Do
Based in Glendive, Montana, RideWell will provide safe, reliable, and affordable ADA accessible transportation across 11 Eastern Montana counties. Riders will be transported to essential medical appointments and services in communities such as Sidney, Miles City, and Billings, destinations that will be critical for specialty care and ongoing treatment.
RideWell will not simply provide rides. It will support access to health care, strengthen independent living, and reduce the isolation many rural residents face.
Progress Toward Launch
LIFTT will soon reach several important milestones that will bring RideWell closer to operation:
- LIFTT has received funding from the Montana Department of Transportation to purchase two ADA-accessible vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible vans.
- LIFTT has secured two plots of land in Glendive for the construction of a transportation facility and a vehicle maintenance shop.
- Program coordination, planning, and community partnerships will continue to be developed to ensure RideWell launches as a safe, sustainable, and dependable service.
The individuals RideWell will serve will not be strangers. They will be neighbors, family members, coworkers, and long-time residents who contribute to the social and economic life of our communities.
Transportation will be more than a ride. It will be access to care. It will be freedom of choice. It will be independence.
As RideWell moves closer to launch, LIFTT will look forward to working alongside community partners, supporters, and residents to make accessible rural transportation a lasting reality in Eastern Montana.
RideWell at a Glance
Program Name:
RideWell Rural Transportation Program
Operated by:
LIFTT (Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow)
Service Area:
Eleven counties in Eastern Montana, with medical destinations including Sidney, Miles City, and Billings
Who RideWell Will Serve:
- Individuals with disabilities
- Older adults
- Low-income residents with limited transportation options
What RideWell Will Provide:
- ADA accessible transportation
- Safe and reliable vehicles with wheelchair access
- Essential trips to medical care and services
Current Status:
- Vehicles funded and scheduled for delivery
- Plots of land secured in Glendive
- Facility planning underway
- Program launch approaching
Help Build the Road Ahead
RideWell will soon become a reality, and community support will be essential to ensure its long-term success. You can be part of this effort by:
- Partnering with LIFTT to support accessible rural transportation
- Contributing toward the construction of the RideWell transportation facility
- Sharing information about RideWell to raise awareness of transportation needs in rural Montana
Together, we will help ensure that people across Eastern Montana can access the transportation they need to live independently, stay healthy, and remain connected to their communities. To learn more or get involved in RideWell, please contact our Transportation Coordinator, Tina Carter, at (406) 948-1503 or tinac@liftt.org
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides aging and disabled members of the community with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple device.
Our Vision: Empowering aging and disabled individuals to LIFTT themselves above the barriers of life.
Our Mission: Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow – LIFTT’s mission is to empower aging and disabled individuals to live independently through education, support, and opportunities.