Missoula Ravalli Transportation
About Missoula Ravalli Transportation
Missoula Ravalli Transportation is for the part of life that never quite fits neatly into a calendar, the commute, the school run, the job interview, the appointment across town. It helps people share rides, trim commuting costs, and keep moving through western Montana with vanpools, carpools, guaranteed rides home, and short-term transportation support. For donors, that means backing a practical local system that saves trips, miles, and money while making everyday travel a little more workable.
What sets MRTMA apart is how many forms of ride help it can offer under one regional umbrella, from commuter vanpools and carpool matching to emergency ride reimbursement and transportation vouchers. It also supports local transportation partners across western Montana with technical assistance, so its impact reaches beyond the people in the seat.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
iRide vanpool
Provides shared commuter vans, with MRTMA supplying the vehicles and paying for insurance and maintenance while participants share fuel costs and other commuting expenses. Routes serve Missoula, Ravalli, Lake, and Mineral counties.
Carpool rideshare matching
Matches commuters with similar home and work pickup and drop-off points, provides potential rider lists, and offers free matching services for people who cannot use the vanpool service.
Guaranteed Ride Home
Reimburses emergency rides from Uber, Lyft, or local taxi providers for registered MRTMA members and other eligible participants who used an alternate commute mode that day.
Emergency transportation voucher program
Provides bus passes or gas vouchers for low-income individuals needing non-emergency medical transportation, job interviews, or transportation after a crime victim incident, and gives a one-month bus pass to individuals upon hire.
Transportation coordination and technical assistance
Assists local transportation providers and councils with grant documents, coordination agreements, community transportation coordination plans, and transit facility development.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Transportation management and education.
Who they serve
Commuters in Missoula, Ravalli, Lake, and Mineral counties, especially rural workers, registered vanpool and carpool participants, and people needing limited transportation assistance.
Their impact
- 773,865 vehicle trips saved since the carpool and vanpool programs began in 1996
- 315,174,754 miles not traveled since the carpool and vanpool programs began in 1996
- 1,375 reduction in vehicle emissions since the carpool and vanpool programs began in 1996
- 996 rides provided through the emergency transportation voucher program since inception
- 1,994 vehicle trips and 67,049 accumulated miles through the veterans transportation program since July 2016
How your donation helps
- Vanpool vehicle insurance and maintenance
- Fuel subsidies that lower participant commuting costs
- Reimbursement for emergency rides through the Guaranteed Ride Home program
- Bus passes and gas vouchers for the emergency transportation voucher program
- Support for park-and-ride locations and route coordination
Our story
MRTMA’s vanpool work began with a route between Hamilton and Missoula on August 11, 1997. That first vanpool started small, with 4 to 6 daily commuters and 2 to 3 occasional riders, and by the end of its second week it had grown to 11 consistent commuters.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Missoula Ravalli Transportation’s services.
People interested in vanpooling complete a rideshare application and MRTMA looks for at least 4 riders for a minivan or 8 to 9 riders for a 13-passenger van, with an origin in Lake, Missoula, Ravalli, or Mineral County. Registered members who use an alternate commute mode on the day of an emergency can request Guaranteed Ride Home reimbursement, and eligible low-income individuals can receive bus passes or gas vouchers through the emergency transportation voucher program.
In their words
Share together, laugh together, drive together.
Reduce Parking Congestion Protect Our Environment Improve Our Quality of Life.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Missoula Ravalli Transportation has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Approved vanpool driver
- Alternate vanpool driver
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Ridership under 100,000 recognition, Montana Transit Association Excellence in Transit banquet, 2025
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Missoula Ravalli Transportation from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What is a vanpool?
A vanpool is a shared ride for a small group of people who travel in the same direction, usually in a van, to get to work or other places together.
What areas does the vanpool serve?
Vanpool routes serve Missoula, Ravalli, Lake, and Mineral counties, including communities such as Hamilton, Victor, Corvallis, Stevensville, Florence, Lolo, Alberton, 9-Mile, Huson, Frenchtown, Polson, Ronan, Charlo, St. Ignatius, Ravalli, Arlee, Evaro, and Wye.
What does the Guaranteed Ride Home program cover?
It reimburses rides from Uber, Lyft, or local taxi providers for eligible participants who used another commute mode that day and then needed an emergency ride home.
What are the driver requirements?
Drivers need to be at least 25 years old, have a Montana State driver’s license, have at least 5 years of driving experience, complete the required training and paperwork, and have a clean driving record.
How do riders get matched for a carpool?
People fill out a Carpool Rideshare Application, and MRTMA sends back a list of potential partners so commuters can find a fit, set pickup and drop-off points, and decide on their carpool rules.