Last February, local leaders, service providers, and other members of the community gathered for the Trip Connect Lunch + Learn, which introduced Johnson County’s new workforce and education transportation service. Trip Connect was designed to bridge transportation gaps for the public, particularly those needing access to work, school, and childcare after hours. This session educated participants on how the service works, the target audience, and why it is more than a simple service, but a practical solution to the workforce challenges faced by many residents. By providing affordable rides to employment, education, and childcare, Trip Connect addresses top barriers that stand in the way of job stability and career growth.
This new program, funded by Johnson County and operated by Horizons NTS, first launched last December. It runs Sunday through Friday from 5:00 PM to midnight and serves Johnson County as well as nearby rural areas north of I-80 including Oxford, Swisher, Shueyville, and Solon. Each ride is a small flat fee of $2 for adults and free for youth with a parent/guardian.
Trip Connect is run through an app, available in English, Spanish, and French. Similar to services such as Uber/Lyft with a GPS-enabled map system, riders simply input trip details, select reason (work, school, childcare), and time of rides, while having an ability to book return trips. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are also available.
For employers, one potentially overlooked strength of the service is the voucher system that is available to give ride access to clients or staff. This feature allows businesses and organizations to directly support reliable transportation for employees, interns, or program participants who may face mobility challenges, especially during non-traditional hours. By helping cover the costs of evening rides to work, training, or childcare, employees can reduce absenteeism, improve retention, and strengthen workforce participation across Johnson County.
Future expansion discussions have called for more Sunday hours and like all pilot programs, sustainability is always a concern. In just over two months, nearly 400 rides have already been provided, which is a promising sign that demand for the service is strong and growing. The community is also encouraged to talk to their local elected officials and promote interest in continuing the program.
For more information, please visit the official Trip Connect Johnson county webpage, complete with FAQs, scheduling, and contact information. Additionally, the Trip Connect Flyers translated in Arabic, French, Spanish, and Swahili are available.
