The mission of Treasure Valley Transit, Inc. (TVT) is to provide a viable public transportation system where the need is great and access is limited. TVT began in 1992 as a private non-profit rural provider operating in Canyon and Owyhee Counties. At that time, the City of Nampa had a population of 28,000 and there was no available public transportation.

TVT established and provided all of the public transportation service in the county until the 2000 census re-designated the Nampa/Caldwell area from a “rural” to “small urbanized” area. TVT as a result of this process, no longer had jurisdiction over the small urban area as it went under the Valley Regional Transit Authority. TVT was now able to devote all its resources to the eight counties in rural Idaho.

The current Board of Directors consists of seven volunteer members: a representative of the community; a representative from Canyon County; a representative from Ada County Highway Department (ACHD); a representative from the Canyon County Organization on Aging: a representative from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, who also represents 18 senior centers; a representative from the developmentally disabled agencies; and a transportation consultant. TVT will be expanding the Board to include representatives from Valley and Elmore Counties.

Current Services: TVT is the rural transportation provider for the eight counties in the Idaho Transportation Department‘s (ITD) District 3. It is also a Medicaid provider, which comprises about 12% of its overall services. TVT provides transportation for the developmentally disabled in Canyon County along with individual Medicaid trips. It also operates service in Elmore and Valley Counties. TVT is currently exploring coordination alternatives in Adams, Washington, and Payette Counties and in Malhuer County, Oregon. TVT operates 16 vehicles with a staff of 22, including the drivers. The majority of the drivers are full-time and receive benefits. TVT provides over 102,000 annual trips, or approximately 8,400 trips per month, in its combined service area.

Senior Centers: TVT is meeting with the 18 senior centers in the eight counties it serves. It loans vehicles to senior centers, which operate and schedule these vehicles directly. Discussions are underway for the senior centers to consider coordination alternatives that can enhance their current transportation programs.

Canyon County: TVT is the primary Medicaid provider in the county and transports developmentally disabled clients to three workshops operated by the Western Idaho Training Company. Five 20-passenger buses are dedicated to this service. In addition, TVT has a small contract with the Nampa Recreation Center to take students to school in the morning.

Fixed Routes: TVT runs two fixed routes in Elmore County—one within Mountain Home and one from Mountain Home to the Air Force Base. Mountain Home has a fixed route that circulates around the city over a 12-hour period and another 12-hour route to the Air Force Base.

TVT operates a fixed route in the City of McCall (Valley County).

TVT has a public-private partnership with the Tamarack Resort to coordinate the operations of an employee/general public shuttle running from Cascade (Valley County) to the ski resort at Tamarack and on into McCall. On July 1, 2007 the Valley County Connections Route began which now connects the cities of Cascade, Donnelly, Lake Fork and McCall.

TVT has created a Vision Statement, which outlines its future directions:

Vision Statement: Treasure Valley Transit, Inc. sees the future of the Southwest Idaho region as distinguished by growth. Growth creates the necessity for TVT to provide alternate transportation options. Treasure Valley Transit is well positioned to serve the population and to provide benefits in terms of the environment, the movement of people, and the general quality of life in the region. This will be accomplished with the leadership of TVT working with the community in transit planning efforts.

TVT is part of the 16-member Treasure Valley Medicaid Coalition which is monitoring how a brokerage would affect the current Medicaid providers. They have sent a charter to the governor and have been working for several years with the Department of Health and Welfare. This statewide brokerage is scheduled to begin in early 2008.

Funding: TVT originated in 1992 under a 3-year office of rural health policy grant. Now, TVT’s funding is provided through federal Section 5311 for operations and Section 5310 for vehicles. It also receives funding from the cities in which the fixed routes operate, funding as a Medicaid provider, and from contracts with organizations.