For John Arispe of St. Regis, getting to Missoula doesn’t require getting behind the wheel anymore. 

Arispe moved to St. Regis seven years ago and has been using the transportation services provided by the Mineral County Pioneer Council for the past six years. The service has worked so well for him that he no longer drives regularly, although he keeps a vehicle around just in case. 

“Well, it makes it easier for me to go into Missoula as it’s very handy,” Arispe said. “I use it for monthly shopping and medical appointments.” 

There’s another benefit, too, as his vehicle gets a break. 

“With the wear and tear on my vehicle, not even mentioning the price of gas, it’s easier to just take the van,” he said. 

In September alone, Arispe used MCPC transportation three times; twice for medical appointments in Superior and once for his monthly shopping trip to Missoula. For regular scheduled runs, the cost of a round-trip, door-to-door ride from St. Regis to Missoula is $23. And as Arispe jokes, he may be using the service even more as the years go by. 

“I’m at the age where I’m going to the doctor more often,” he said, whether those appointments are in Superior or Missoula.

That’s where knowing the different ride options can save passengers some money. MCPC provides both regularly scheduled rides and unscheduled medical transportation, and the price depends on the type of trip.

An unscheduled medical round trip from St. Regis to Superior costs $25, while an unscheduled medical round trip from St. Regis to Missoula costs $75. Because of that difference, regular riders often try to schedule doctor and dental appointments on the days the MCPC vans are already making their scheduled Missoula runs. 

The regularly scheduled Missoula trips use a sliding fee scale based on where passengers are picked up. Round-trip, door-to-door fares range from $13 in Alberton to $26 in Saltese. MCPC makes six scheduled trips to Missoula each month, giving residents an affordable way to take care of medical appointments, shopping and other essential business, without having to drive themselves. 

Popular stops are Walmart, Costco, the Missoula Food Bank, Southgate Mall, Partnership Health Center, both Providence St. Patrick Hospital and Community Medical Center, Albertsons, Scheels, and different restaurants. Some want to have lunch at the Montana Club and some like Biga Pizza, Notorious P.I.G., Paul's Pancake Parlor, or others so the driver is dropping off and picking up passengers to accommodate requests as best as possible.

The trips can sometimes make for a long day because the van accommodates the needs of several passengers. One person may have an appointment while another wants to shop at a particular store. But that can be part of the adventure. Passengers can bring a book, enjoy the scenery, do some people watching or simply relax while someone else does the driving. They can also ask to be dropped off for a Missoula matinee, as long as they are ready to board the bus again before it leaves Missoula at 3 p.m. For medical-related trips, passengers can request a receipt and, in many cases, submit it to Medicaid for possible reimbursement.

Arispe has been impressed not only with the affordability of the service, but with the people providing it. 

“Sue and Roy are very helpful and polite. They do an excellent job,” he said. 

The Sue he is referring to is Sue Freman, MCPC dispatcher and driver. Freman is the person who schedules passengers when they call with transportation needs. Roy Martin, fleet manager and driver, oversees routine maintenance and cleanliness of MCPC’s fleet, which includes three minivans and a 12-passenger bus equipped with a wheelchair lift. 

The bus can accommodate up to six wheelchair passengers. The transportation program is designed to serve everyone and especially seniors, people with disabilities, low-income residents and those who just don’t care to drive anymore, especially in winter. The goal is simple: provide transportation that is affordable, dependable and available to Mineral County residents who need it.

Behind the scenes, the Mineral County Pioneer Council is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers, including a representative from the Montana Transit Association. The group meets monthly to discuss the needs, changes, challenges and costs involved in providing public transportation throughout the county. The council is also looking for volunteer drivers, with a stipend provided. The driver can take care of their needs in Missoula like the passengers and put some change in their pocket too boot!

The MCPC meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at its transit facility at 110 Moats Lane in Superior. Meetings are open to the public. For transportation information or to schedule a ride, call 406-552-7003. TTY service is available at 1-800-335-7592. The weekly Missoula transportation schedule is available at www.mcpioneercouncil.com.