TMACC and Equity Health Center Improve Health Access with
Free Ride for Health Link Passes in Greater Coatesville
Coatesville, PA – December 23, 2025 – Getting to a doctor’s appointment, counseling session, or specialist shouldn’t be the hardest part of taking care of your health. If transportation makes it difficult to get the care you need, the Ride for Health program on the Coatesville Link bus may be the solution.
Ride for Health is a new partnership between the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) and the Equity Health Center that is designed specifically for people who live, work, or receive services in the Coatesville area. Individuals whose healthcare or social service provider is part of the Ride for Health Alliance network are eligible for free bus trips on the Coatesville Link to get to medical appointments and other essential services along the route.
“The Link is a public transportation option available to everyone,” says Tim Phelps, Executive Director of TMACC. “Public transportation, like the Link, enables people to get to jobs, educational opportunities, health care, food, and shopping, without having to rely on access to a car or being able to drive one. We learned through our partnership with Equity Health Center, that for some, the cost of public transportation still poses a barrier to get to the healthcare providers they need. That’s why we developed the Ride for Health program in Greater Coatesville.”
How It Works
- Ask your healthcare or social service provider if they participate in Ride for Health.
- Request a free Coatesville Link Ride for Health bus pass for your medical appointments.
- Your provider will work with TMACC to load free rides onto a reloadable bus pass using TMACC’s new electronic ticketing system, ModeShift.
- The convenient pass works much like a SEPTA Key card. Simply tap the electronic farecard or download the app on a mobile phone. Rides provided through Ride for Health are free for eligible medical trips, and personal funds can be loaded onto the same card for other rides.
- Check your schedule and plan your trip at tmacc.org/chescobus.
“Having a public transportation pass, like ModeShift, available right on your mobile phone provides greater ease and improves accessibility,” says Moira Gassenmeyer, Integrated Health Director for the Alliance for Health Equity and Equity Health Center Coordinator. “Reliable transportation means fewer missed appointments, better follow-up care, and more control over your health. Having bus service in Coatesville helps raise up the community as a whole, and TMACC’s Ride for Health initiative is helping to eliminate transportation and cost barriers to healthcare access.”
Where the Link Can Take You
The Coatesville Link runs Monday through Saturday and connects people to many important destinations, including:
- Brandywine Medical Center
- Coatesville VA Medical Center
- Handi-Crafters
- Airport Village and Aldi
- West Sadsbury Commons Walmart
- The Coatesville YMCA
- Parkesburg and Coatesville Amtrak stations
- Connections to SEPTA Route 135
Route maps and schedules can be found at tmacc.org/chescobus.
Ride for Health is funded through federal ARPA dollars through 2026, with support from Chester County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and local municipalities. Partner agencies and other organizations that wish to provide free transportation services for their employees or clients may also purchase fares for distribution.
“Mobility should be for all. People shouldn’t have to worry about managing the cost of transportation when you’re trying to get to care,” Phelps explains. “With Ride for Health, getting to appointments is easier, more affordable, and within your control. The new program helps people stay healthy and connected to the services that matter most.
To view the full article, please follow this link: https://equityhealthcenter.org/tmacc-and-equity-health-center-improve-health-access-with-free-ride-for-health-link-passes-in-greater-coatesville/
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