By Stephen Kalb-Koenigsfeld
C.A.R.T. Transportation Coordinator
The Carbon County Area Ride and Transit advisory committee met for its monthly meeting in October, but with a change of scenery. For the first time, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) was taken out of Red Lodge, travelling to Joliet. The Joliet Community Center hosted the afternoon meeting on October 24.
Members from county leadership, medical leadership, the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation’s board and age friendly community leadership were all present to discuss a variety of topics. Leading the discussion was implementation of brand and logo design. By the end of the year, C.A.R.T. will have a full brand and logo, designed by a freelance graphic designer in Red Lodge. The goal is to have promotional and informational documents that incorporate a connecting theme throughout.
C.A.R.T. leadership also applied for a pair of grants in the month of October. First, a leadership academy program through the National Leadership Academy for Public Health. The program teaches different leadership techniques through various online webinars, as well as a 2.5 day training in Atlanta. Unfortunately, applying members of the TAC did not receive the grant.
The second grant was for $15,000 through Western Security Bank. The grant would help out with operational and matching funds for the Montana Department of Transportation grant the TAC will apply for in February 2020. There is no status at this time if C.A.R.T. received that grant.
The TAC also agreed to adopt the recommendation to implement a 3-day-a-week, free county-wide transit service once funds are acquired through grants and matching funds, as well as a twice-a-month scheduled route to Billings. The adoption of recommendation comes after months of discussion on what would best serve riders in Carbon County.
TAC meetings are open to the public and members of the public are encouraged to attend and share thoughts with the advisory committee. The next TAC meeting will be December 11 at 1 p.m. A location has not been decided. Check for updates on future locations, TAC meetings, news and information on the Foundation’s website (rlacf.org/latest-news) or on the Foundation’s Facebook page.
If you would like more information on C.A.R.T. please reach out to Transportation Coordinator, Stephen Kalb-Koenigsfeld at stephenk@rlacf.org or 406-425-2820.