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Transportation officials across the State of Minnesota are hoping attention given to transportation needs, as part of the Transportation Alliance’s annual D.C. Fly-In, will help cultivate friends on multiple transportation related needs.

One issue the local Arrowhead Transit agency has been grappling with directly,  is part of an Act for Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation.  This appears to be inching towards wide ranging support,  creating a “potential turning point in the landscape of rural transit,” according to Arrowhead’s communications person Dominick Olivanti.

Arrowhead Transit took over the old Heartland Express routes that serve Chisago County,  and volunteer drivers are “essential’ to Arrowhead’s programming.  Olivanti estimated there’s only 103 drivers now, versus three times that number pre-2017.  Tax regulations introduced in 2017 and ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have hindered efforts to  attract volunteer drivers and passing the Act may help.

Riders who sign-up  with Arrowhead,  are connected with drivers driving their own vehicles for needs like medical appointments.  The program operates across the transit agency’s 10 Minnesota  counties.  Volunteer drivers get 14 cents per mile and the issue is to increase this to the general IRS approved rate for business reimbursement of 65 cents per mile.  The description of the Congressional Act— introduced in 2022— is to “equalize charitable mileage rates with business travel rate.”

This stipend also was never meant to have an impact on calculating the drivers’ income.  Olivanti said federal rules have had a dampening effect on recruiting drivers who  might also be collecting Social Security and could exceed limits on outside income.

One supporter for changes is Arrowhead’s own District 8 U.S. Representative Pete Stauber.  He stated last week that, “Countless seniors, veterans, and individuals living with disabilities...rely on volunteer drivers to help them access important appointments, food and other necessities.  These selfless volunteers make a huge impact, especially in the rural communities I represent.”

Stauber added he was grateful to the Arrowhead representatives for traveling to Washington D.C. to advocate on the legislation’s behalf.

MN Rep. Angie Craig also supports the driver along with both Minnesota U.S. Senators.

Arrowhead’s Associate Director of Finance, Colette Hanson wanted to make note of the psychological benefits that come from the volunteer driver program.  Human connections are made that enable citizens to continue to live within the community knowing there are people they trust and who become companions.  “These drivers are not mere providers of a service, they are...enablers of independent living within our community.” 

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