The Connection
Public Transportation
for Hunt County, Texas
(a division of HCCOA, Hunt County Committee on Aging, Inc.)

3720 Oneal Street
Greenville, Texas 75401
fax 903-454-4150
reservations@connectioninfo.org

HCCOA is your Connection for public transportation. A state-designated Rural Transit District, The Connection serves residents of Greenville and Hunt County with demand response door to door service. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available.

Reservation-based public transit services are available to all residents, regardless of age or economic status. The Connection also offers subsidized and/or discount services for seniors, handicapped and low-income residents.

• hours of operation
  
• fares
  
• medical transportation
  
• Job Access Reverse Commute program
  
• senior transportation
  
• specialized transportation
  
• transportation policies
  
• safety rules

These days and times are observed except for holidays and bad weather days.

Hunt county areas outside the City of Greenville: 

Monday through Friday. Pick up starts at 7:00 a.m. in county to come into Greenville and returns into county at 7:00 p.m. (note: route begins in Greenville at 6:30 am)

The City of Greenville:  

Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Transportation between Hunt Co. and Rockwall Co.:  

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
(Note: returns to originating county at 4:30 p.m.)

From Hunt Co. into Dallas area:

Tuesday & Thursday

Airport transportation (Love Field only) on designated days to Dallas area. Same rules apply.

Surrounding counties within a 50-mile radius are negotiated with transportation supervisor on a case by case basis as a non-established route.

Connection with DART Rowlett Park & Ride:

Monday thru Friday, departs Helping Hands at Noon and returns at 9 p.m.

Services are not available on the following holidays (services resume the following working day):

• Labor Day
• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• New Year's Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the following day
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas
  

Bad weather day cancellations are determined by The Connection, based on weather reports and local street conditions.
Tune to KGVL (AM radio 1400) for information.

The Connection fares:

(subject to change without prior notification)

Destination and origin within same community or city:

$1.00 per each authorized intra-city, one way trip.
$2.00 Round trip

Destination and origin within same county:

$2.00 per each authorized intra-county one way trip.
$4.00 round trip

County to county, destination and origin within Hunt and Rockwall Counties:

$4.00 per each authorized one way trip.
$8.00 round trip

Destination in surrounding county within 50 mile radius (e.g. Dallas) and origin within Hunt or Rockwall County. (minimum 3 passengers):

$10.00 per each authorized surrounding county one way trip.
$20.00 round trip

Children under 12 ride with adult escort at half-fare, except for transportation out of service area (e.g. Dallas).

These charges apply to each passenger, including, but not limited to, escorts. Participants must comply with all safety rules and The Connection's policies and procedures.

Trip charges must be paid upon refusal of service at the point of origin or failure to appear at the point of origin without ample prior notification to The Connection (referred to as a dry run).

Subsidized Services

Medical Transportation

• Title XIX Medicaid Program
  
• serves participants pre-authorized by Medicaid Central Dispatch in Arlington, Texas
  
• provides medical transportation within The Connection service area (Hunt or Rockwall County)
  
• provides limited medical transportation originating in service area to Dallas County, as needed
  
• reservations:
  Greenville area: (903) 454-1444
  Relay Texas (800) 735-2989 (TDD)

Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Transit Program

• income-based service for fare subsidized program
  
• discount fare structure to other general public within Hunt and Rockwall Counties
  
• provides daily transportation within Hunt and Rockwall Counties to and from:
  • workplace
    
  • child care
    
  • education or training classes
    
  • other job retaining activities
    
• reservations:
  Greenville area: (903) 454-1444
  Relay Texas (800) 735-2989 (TDD)
  

Senior Transportation

Service is donated for passengers over 60 years of age traveling to:

• Senior Citizens Center
  
• local doctor's office (does not include trips to Dallas)
  
• grocery store (limited to one trip per week)
  
• reservations:
  Greenville area: (903) 454-1444
  Relay Texas (800) 735-2989 (TDD)

Specialized Transportation

• Eligibility:
  • 60 years old or older living independently
    Exceptions may be made for wheelchair confined nursing home residents or other non-independent living facilities if accompanied by a responsible companion from time of departure through return to the nursing home
    
  • persons of any age covered by a contact between HCCOA and another agency
    
  • wheelchair confined persons not other wise covered
    
• Procedures:
  
  • reserve rides (and returns, if needed) within city of residence at least 24 hours in advance
    
  • reserve trips beyond the city limits one week in advance. Passengers may be accommodated on shorter notice if scheduling permits
    
  • passengers must be ready to depart at scheduled time
    
  • notify HCCOA of any changes in time scheduled as soon as possible
    
  • if HCCOA can not meet scheduled time, every effort is made to notify passengers
    
  • failure to notify HCCOA of trip cancellation may result in loss of transportation privileges
    
• reservations:
  Greenville area: (903) 454-1444
  Relay Texas (800) 735-2989 (TDD)

Transportation Policies

The Connections policies help ensure the safety and efficiency of our transportation service.
The Connection's drivers have the right to remove any passengers who do not comply with these policies.

• Reservation for each trip destination must be made at least one day in advance (Sorry, drivers can't make any changes on the day of transportation unless authorized by central office.)
  
• Passengers must call in their own reservations (unless another pre-approved caller has been established).
  
• Requests for a specially equipped van must be made at the time of your reservation (wheelchair van, child's car seat).
  
• Fares must be paid upon boarding The Connection vehicle unless prior arrangements have been made and clearance has been given to driver by HCCOA, Inc.
  
• Pre-authorization is required for a confirmed trip to be billed to the passenger or a third party.
  
• Passengers must file a client information form. A third party acting in the best interest of the passenger, such as a caregiver or caseworker, may complete the form.
  
• First time passengers must notify The Connection at the time a reservation is made so the client information form can be completed.
  
• Failure to give advance notice (at least one day) when unable to make a reserved trip will result in being charged for the dry run on the next trip. The Connection reserves the right to deny service to passengers who fail to provide cancellation notice. In instances where a third party is responsible for reservations and cancellations, that party will be billed for the dry run.
  
• Passengers must be ready to depart at the reserved pickup time. Because unavoidable delays in service can occur, The Connection maintains a one-hour window within reserved pickup time.
  
• Due to space considerations, passengers are limited to 3 grocery bags or 2 laundry baskets per person.
  
• Any discrepancies in service or observation of unsafe practices by The Connection vehicles, service, or personnel should be reported to the transportation supervisor at HCCOA.
  
• The Connection provides door to door service for elderly and disabled riders. Our drivers are not allowed to lift or physically handle riders and they are not allowed to enter rider's homes.
  
• An adult must accompany any passenger under the age of 12.
  

Safety rules

• Passengers must wear safety belts. Children under age 2 must be secured in a car seat, as required by state law
  
• No shoving, pushing, or behaving in a disorderly manner
  
• No smoking in The Connection vehicles
  
• No eating or drinking in The Connection vehicles
  
• No consumption or possession of alchoholic beverages in The Connection vehicles
  
• No consumption or possession of illegal drugs in The Connection vehicles
  
• No playing of personal radios, tape decks, or CD players in The Connection vehicles
  

The Connection's drivers may remove passengers who do not observe safety rules or policies.