OCO News

Short‑Term Transportation Assistance – Recap

Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) offered one‑time, short‑term transportation assistance to help individuals during a time of high gas prices and transportation challenges.

About the Program

This program was designed to provide short-term transportation assistance to help people remain connected to essential services, employment, and other opportunities. From May through August 2026, OCO provided gas cards and bus passes to 183 people. Among those reporting transportation needs, the most frequently identified needs were medical appointments (66.3%), employment/work (65.8%), and food access (51.3%). Additional needs included school/education (20.2%), childcare (10.4%), caregiving (5.7%), and legal/court appointments (2.1%). *People could identify more than one transportation need, so the percentages reflect the proportion of respondents who identified each need and do not total 100%.

The results demonstrate that transportation is connected to multiple areas of stability and opportunity for individuals and families in our community. Our next steps are to present these results to the Board of Directors and evaluate how OCO can continue to play a role in increasing access to affordable, reliable transportation throughout our community.

Who was Eligible?

This was a one-time transportation assistance program which was available to adults in Oswego County who meet the following criteria:

• Have a transportation-related need; and
• Have a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines(listed below); and
• Assistance is subject to the availability of funding

Applicants applied through a form and typically received a response within 2 weeks. 

What Assistance Was Available?

Eligible adults could receive one‑time transportation assistance, with support amounts determined based on transportation needs and available funding.

Assistance included:

• Gas cards
• Bus passes
• Other transportation support for essential needs

Assistance is available on a limited basis while funds last. If you need additional transportation assistance, or have questions about transportation resources in Oswego County, please visit Oswego County Office of Mobility Management at https://www.oswegocountyny.gov/departments/mobility_management/transportation_resources.php

OCO Services Include

OCO provides a wide range of programs for individuals and families across Oswego County, including:
Meals on Wheels, Nutrition Services, WIC, OPTIONS, Health Homes, Cancer Services, Health Insurance Assistance, Migrant Health, Head Start, Universal Pre‑K, After School Program, Discovery Learning Center, Dining & Activity Centers, Transportation Services, Housing & Supportive Living Programs, Mental Health Services, Homeless Services, Victim Services, and more.

To learn more about all OCO programs and services, visit www.oco.org.
Need support and not sure where to start? Contact OCO’s CarePoint Intake and Navigation Team at intake@oco.org or by calling 315‑592‑0807