The Heart of Texas Rural Transit District (HOTRTD) is 1 of 39 Rural Transit Districts designated statewide by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The service area of HOTRTD covers all six counties in the HOTCOG service area – Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and rural McLennan.
HOTRTD provides demand response public ground transportation to the general public, transportation for seniors age 60 and older and individuals with disabilities. HOTRTD contracts with four service providers (subcontractors) throughout the region to provide transportation services.
Bosque County Transit – Bosque County
Central Texas Senior Ministry – Falls, Hill and McLennan County (excludes City of Waco – Waco Transit service area)
Freestone County– Freestone County
Limestone County Senior Services Project – Limestone County
Service is primarily provided using 47 HOTCOG owned revenue vehicles leased to and operated by the four service providers. The service providers also use the HOTCOG owned vehicles to run contracted Medicaid Trips within the 6-county service area for Waco Transit exclusive of any involvement or participation from HOTRTD.
The HOTRTD service is classified as "origin-to-destination" meaning the vehicle stops at the passenger's address instead of the passenger being required to go to a pick up location. Transportation is provided Monday through Friday (schedule varies) in the rural areas of the HOTCOG region.
Mobility Management
Effective September 1, 2009, the Mobility Management program was initiated by TxDOT to fund the establishment of a mobility management program in our service area. The Mobility Management Coordinator position was estblished as an integral part of a new concept that both the Federal government and TxDOT have endorsed. The HOTRTD mobility management program specifically integrates many of the transportation services already established within the Health and Human Services Department and the general transportation network.