Charlotte Dial-A-Ride's Executive Director Dana Planetta is retiring after 17 years. She has been with the charity organization since its inception and has played a key role in the Dial-A-Ride's transformation of rural New Brunswick's access to affordable transportation.

Headquartered in St. Stephen, New Brunswick but servicing residents over the Charlotte County, Charlotte Dial-A-Ride began 17 years ago as a charitable effort to offer affordable transportation to people in rural Southwest New Brunswick in need. The alternative transportation organization was the first of its kind in New Brunswick but now there are 19 across the province offering transportation services to people in rural communities who need help getting to everything from job opportunities and appointments to grocery stores.

"We started in July of 2005 and by September the 5th of that year we were organized our first drive," recalls Planetta. "We made it happen, and the service was originally supposed to be for just people needing drives within Charlotte County, but we quickly realized that people couldn't get to their doctor appointments in Saint John, and so we changed our plans and adapted to people's needs. We went after any funding opportunities we could find. It was a real team effort." 

It is an ongoing challenge for many rural New Brunswick residents to find transportation especially outside of their own community, but Charlotte Dial-A-Ride has stepped up to the plate to full that void currently boasting 27 volunteer drivers and over 8,000 booked appointments. Volunteer drivers are compensated 35 cents per kilometre to pay for gas and mileage on their car. Their time, however, is all charitable. That allows Dial-A-Ride to charge users a minimal fee for drives around the county and to as far away as Saint John. Dial-A-Ride works with sister organizers to secure secondary rides for clients looking to travel even further. All clients require a membership and must book rides at least 48 hours in advance.

Planetta is confident that even though she is retiring, Dial-A-Ride will continue to grow. She also plans to volunteer as a driver now that she has more free time. To learn more about Dial-A-Ride, visit www.charlottedial-a-ride.com or call 506-466-4444.