What We Do

RCATS - Public Access Transit

Call 34R-CATS (347-2287)to schedule your trip!

Aging, Disability and Transit Services of Rockingham County operates the Public Access Transportation System (RCATS) for Rockingham County's citizens.  The system provides safe and reliable transportation services to contracted agencies and the general public.  The system receives funding assistance and oversight support for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.

RCATS has a fleet of 20 vans providing services under contract for the majority of the Health and Human Services in Rockingham County and the general public.  RCATS provides transportation to Rockingham County citizens only and travels only in Rockingham County.  RCATS provides wheelchair accessible lift van service as well as standard conversion van service for ambulatory passengers.  Transportation      services are provided Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Saturdays for Dialysis passengers only.

Typical destinations are medical facilities, rehabilitation and treatment centers, educational facilities other than K-12 schools, employment, grocery shopping, etc.  Fares may apply depending upon eligibility and destination.  Some area and time of day restrictions exist due to limited levels of funding.  A four working day notice is required in advance of appointments due to seating capacity, van availability and route arrangements.  To make a reservation or for more information, please call 34R-CATS. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Quick Jump to Questions:

Who Can Ride?

Who is eligible for free transportatioa

How do I set up transportation?

What is it like riding the van?

What is required for wheelchair passengers?

Who Can Ride?

Anyone who is a citizen of Rockingham County is eligible to ride RCATS vehicles.  An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18 to and from appointments unless special provisions have been made prior to the transportation being provided.  All passengers are allowed one attendant to ride along. 

Who is eligible for free transportation and who pays the fare?

Some forms of Medicaid provide for transportation to medical appointments only and the passenger is not required to pay a fare.  An eligibility screening is done upon the initial contact with transportation system and the passenger and/or family will know whether the fare applies or not.  Fares range from $2.00 to $3.00 each way depending upon location and destination.  Tickets may be purchased in advance of transportation for passengers having repeating trips such as employment or education.  Fares will apply to non-covered reservations such as shopping, picking up prescriptions/glasses, education, visits to Social Services, etc. for Medicaid recipients

How do I set up transportation?

There is no need to come to the office to make transportation arrangements.  All information can be exchanged via telephone conversation between the passenger and/or family and the office staff.  Just call 336-34R-CATS (336-347-2287) to schedule a ride or obtain more information.

What is it like riding the van?

Upon making a transportation reservation, the passenger and/or family will be given a pick up time for the driver to arrive at the home.  This time usually is 30 minutes prior to the appointment if passenger is going to the same city as he or she lives and 1 hour prior to the appointment if passenger is going to a different city within the county than he or she lives.  The driver can be either 15 minutes before or after the given pick up time as no one can dictate weather, traffic or other interruptions of schedule.  The drivers are allowed to help the passengers on and off the vehicle and buckling the seatbelt but are not allowed to handle personal belongings such as pocketbooks or to come into the passenger's home.  Drivers are allowed to wait 5 minutes after arrival to the pick-up location and most times a courteous phone call is given from the office to the passenger if there is no sign of the passenger coming to the van.  The passenger should encounter a courteous, responsible driver who has been trained by North Carolina Department of Transportation standards and who submits to random drug and alcohol testing.  After the appointment, the passenger or a representative from the destination will call the office to arrange for the van to come back.  Usually a passenger will only have to wait 15 minutes or so for the van to return as the dispatcher tries to schedule vans in the areas at all times for returns.

What is required for passengers who use a wheelchair?

Passengers using wheelchairs are required to have the following in order to ride the transit vehicles:

• Lap strap/Seat Belt that attaches the passenger to the wheelchair
  
• Leg/Feet Rests attached to the wheelchair
• Working Brakes
• Ramp or Flat area at the residence for smooth transition