Harwich COA Moves to Fill Van Driver Vacancy, Expand Senior Transportation Options

HARWICH — June 17, 2026 — Harwich Council on Aging reports a van driver vacancy and outlines CCRTA alternatives at June 17 meeting. The board heard from Director Julie that driver Steve Gingras departed June 12 after two weeks' notice, reducing COA van service by one to two days weekly while three candidates are interviewed for the position; a replacement is targeted by July 1. The director outlined three Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority services — SmartDart, an on-demand app-based ride for $3 one way; the wheelchair-accessible DART service, by appointment; and the Flex route service, now free — as options for seniors who cannot access COA vans, and said the center is exploring an account with CCRTA to subsidize fares for residents who cannot afford the $3 fee. The volunteer medical driver program, which has seven active drivers, has met all requests within its two-ride-per-month limit for at least nine months; the board said it will place a formal policy discussion about raising that limit to three rides on a future agenda. The director also distributed flyers from the state Office of Consumer Affairs with a searchable contractor-verification database, which the board agreed to post on the COA website.