Transportation for Seniors and Disabled Riders in Sumner County

For most Sumner County residents, Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency Public Transit is the primary starting point for accessible, curb-to-curb rides. Call the Sumner County office at 615-452-5868 or MCHRA’s operations center at 1-800-945-4125. Request local rides at least 24 hours ahead and out-of-county trips at least 72 hours ahead. TennCare members should schedule covered medical transportation through their health plan, while adults 60 and older who no longer drive can contact Community Life Ride at 615-431-2660.

Seniors, disabled residents and caregivers in Gallatin and across Sumner County have several transportation starting points, but the right option depends on the trip and the rider’s needs.

For general local or regional travel, start with Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency Public Transit, a curb-to-curb rural transportation service that serves Sumner County and operates accessible vehicles. Call the Sumner County office at 615-452-5868 or MCHRA’s operations center at 1-800-945-4125. MCHRA requests at least 24 hours’ notice for in-county trips and 72 hours’ notice for out-of-county trips.

For a TennCare-covered medical appointment, use the transportation number assigned to the member’s health plan. For adults age 60 and older who no longer drive, Community Life Ride provides volunteer rides to Sumner County residents through a membership program.

Quick comparison of transportation options

Option — Best starting point for — Service area or limitation — How to begin

MCHRA Public Transit — Local trips, medical appointments, shopping and regional travel — Sumner County and other participating Middle Tennessee counties; does not provide trips within Davidson County — Call 615-452-5868 or 1-800-945-4125

TennCare NEMT — Rides to and from covered TennCare medical services — Available to eligible TennCare members who lack another ride — Call the transportation broker for the member’s health plan

Community Life Ride — Adults 60 and older who no longer drive and need volunteer assistance — Sumner County residents over 60; membership program — Call 615-431-2660

Tennessee Disability and Aging referral help — Finding additional local or statewide resources — Statewide information and referral — Call 1-866-836-6678

This table is a starting guide, not a guarantee that a particular ride will be available. Confirm eligibility, vehicle type, fare, assistance level and scheduling requirements before the trip.

How to schedule an accessible ride through MCHRA

1. Call the Sumner County office

MCHRA lists its Sumner County office at 180 North Belvedere Drive, Unit 12, Gallatin, TN 37066, with the phone number 615-452-5868. The agency also lists 1-800-945-4125 for its operations center.

MCHRA Public Transit is open to the general public on a first-call, first-served basis, subject to scheduling capacity. The agency says medical trips receive priority.

2. Give as much notice as possible

MCHRA requests:

• At least 24 hours’ notice for trips within the county.
• At least 72 hours’ notice for trips outside the county.

Reservations are necessary because rides are scheduled around available vehicles and routes. MCHRA says that if it cannot fit a requested trip into the schedule, staff will try to offer another date or time.

3. Explain the rider’s mobility needs

Tell the scheduler whether the rider uses a wheelchair, walker, cane or other mobility aid. MCHRA describes its service as curb-to-curb and says it uses both regular and lift-equipped vehicles. The agency also reports that 80% of its fleet is accessible.

Ask the scheduler to explain where the vehicle will meet the rider and what assistance the driver can provide. Curb-to-curb service is not automatically the same as door-to-door or hand-to-hand assistance.

4. Confirm the service area and fare

MCHRA lists Sumner among the counties it serves, along with Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson. MCHRA does not provide transportation services within Davidson County, although it may transport riders from an outlying county to a destination there.

MCHRA’s published fare page lists a $10 flat rate each way from Sumner County to Nashville. It also lists other fares and pass information, but the fare depends on the route and service arrangement. Ask for the exact fare when scheduling and confirm whether payment must be made in cash or with a pass.

MCHRA’s published transit hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The agency lists multiple holiday closures and advises riders to call the local office about additional state-designated closures.

TennCare transportation for covered medical appointments

TennCare’s non-emergency medical transportation benefit may provide a free shared ride to and from a TennCare-covered service when the member does not have access to another ride. The member or another person may schedule the trip on the member’s behalf.

Call the number for the member’s current health plan:

• BlueCare: 1-855-735-4660
• TennCare Select: 1-866-473-7565
• UnitedHealthcare: 1-866-405-0238
• Wellpoint: 1-866-680-0633

TennCare recommends scheduling at least two business days before the appointment. There is no stated maximum limit on how far in advance a ride can be scheduled.

Have this information ready:

• The member’s full name, date of birth and phone number.
• Pickup address.
• Social Security number or TennCare identification number.
• Appointment date and time.
• Medical provider’s name, address and phone number.
• Any mobility, communication or assistance needs.

TennCare describes several assistance levels, including curb-to-curb, door-to-door and hand-to-hand service. A request to ride alone or use a specific vehicle may require medical documentation from a healthcare provider.

This service is for covered medical transportation, not general shopping, social or personal errands. If the trip is not related to a covered TennCare service, contact MCHRA or another local provider instead.

Community Life Ride for adults 60 and older

Community Life Ride is a volunteer-driven membership program for mature adults over 60 who no longer drive. Its current service page says it provides rides to Sumner County residents over 60.

The program lists three service levels:

• Curb to curb: The driver picks up and drops off the rider outside.
• Door to door: The driver meets the rider at the door, walks with the rider to the vehicle and helps the rider inside at the destination.
• Door through door: The driver stays with the rider throughout the trip when additional assistance or companionship is needed.

Community Life Ride lists service hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Contact the organization at 615-431-2660. Its office is listed at 177 E. Main St., Suite 1, Hendersonville, TN 37075.

The program’s public page does not list current membership fees, per-ride costs or detailed wheelchair requirements. Ask those questions before enrolling, especially if the rider needs lift-equipped transportation, help with transfers or a caregiver to accompany them.

State and local referral help

The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging maintains transportation assistance information and a statewide resource map. Its information and assistance line is 1-866-836-6678. The department also identifies MyRide Tennessee as a volunteer transportation model for older adults, with local program availability varying by area.

The state’s MyRide directory lists Community Life Bridge among Middle Tennessee programs serving areas that include Hendersonville, Gallatin, Goodlettsville and Portland. The state page identifies 615-431-2660 as the contact number.

Gallatin’s Senior Directory also points residents toward the Area Agency on Aging and Disability for transportation information and referrals. Because local directories can become outdated, confirm current details with the agency or provider before relying on a listing.

Transportation checklist for riders and caregivers

Before calling, write down:

1. Pickup address and destination address.
2. Appointment time and the time the rider must arrive.
3. Whether the trip is within Sumner County or crosses a county line.
4. Whether the rider uses a wheelchair, walker, cane or other device.
5. Whether the rider needs curb-to-curb, door-to-door or hand-to-hand assistance.
6. Whether a caregiver, attendant or companion will ride along.
7. Contact information for the destination facility.
8. The return-trip plan, including whether a scheduled return or will-call pickup is needed.
9. Payment method or insurance information, if applicable.
10. A backup plan in case the ride cannot be scheduled.

For medical appointments, schedule as early as possible and tell the transportation broker about any strict arrival time, discharge issue or mobility concern. For MCHRA and volunteer services, do not assume that a same-day ride will be available.

Which option should you call first?

• General Gallatin or Sumner County trip: Call MCHRA at 615-452-5868.
• Trip to a TennCare-covered medical service: Call the member’s TennCare transportation broker.
• Adult age 60 or older who no longer drives: Call Community Life Ride at 615-431-2660 and ask about enrollment, cost and service limitations.
• Unsure which program fits: Call Tennessee Disability and Aging information and assistance at 1-866-836-6678.
• Emergency medical transportation: Call 911. These services are not substitutes for emergency response.

Last verified and next review

Last researched: August 16, 2026

Recommended next review: November 13, 2026

Freshness class: Frequently verified

Transportation schedules, fares, holiday closures, broker assignments and volunteer-program capacity can change. Confirm details directly before arranging an important ride.