Upton Community Center Transportation Rules and Information

The Upton Senior Center is pleased to offer transportation services for seniors (60+) and disabled Upton residents. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Please call the Center at 508-529-4558 for information or to schedule transportation.

Hours of Operation and Fares

Monday – Friday
9:30 am – 3:00 pm 
All appointments must be within this time range. Morning appointments cannot be earlier than 9:30am. Afternoon appointments must end by 2:30pm if they are local and by 1pm if in Worcester or Franklin. 

At this time, we are unable to accommodate rides outside of this area. 

Information Needed When Booking

All riders must first register with the senior center to use the transportation. Please have the following information when booking your appointment with the office:

1. Required contact information
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Emergency contact 
   • Please let us know if you are in a wheelchair, use a walker or cane

2. Appointment information
   • Date of appointment
   • Time and length of appointment
   • Doctor’s name or facility name
   • Address of appointment
   • Phone number of doctor or facility

Rules and Important Information

• Weekly shopping trips are scheduled through the Center and are first come first served. Please refer to the newsletters for dates.
• Riders attending shopping trips must be able to carry their groceries into their home independently.
• There will be instances when we may not be able to schedule transportation for you due to scheduling conflicts. Van will be available for some UCC programs but availability is not guaranteed. Please call to inquire.
• All vehicles are equipped with a wheelchair lift. For safety reasons all wheelchairs must have footrests.
• Manual wheelchair riders or individuals with cognitive impairment must have a companion rider travel with them (companion riders ride at no cost). 
• Individuals who use walkers must be able to transport (on their own) to a seat. Under no circumstances will a passenger be allowed to remain on their scooter/walker while in transit.
• Transportation service is curb-to-curb only. All riders must be able to get to the vehicle on their own. Those individuals who are unable to walk without assistance, or those with special needs, must bring a companion rider. Drivers are under no circumstances allowed to assist riders in their homes. 
• Riders must be seated at all times, must wear seatbelts, and must remain buckled until the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
• Riders cannot change seats while the vehicle is in motion.
• There is no smoking, eating, or drinking in our vehicles. All items carried-on must be securely stowed.
• Large item purchases are not permitted.
• Please be ready to board 10-minutes before your scheduled pick-up time. Transportation may arrive early or delayed at times. If you are late for your pick-up time, the driver cannot wait. You may miss your ride.
• This is a town-wide transportation service and not an individual taxi service. There may be some waiting involved while we try to accommodate everyone’s needs. Bring a magazine or hobby to pass the time if needed.
• Personal conduct must be acceptable at all times. No yelling, swearing, etc. Hygiene must be acceptable to not offend the driver or other riders.
• If you need to cancel your ride, please call the Center at 508-529-4558 at least 24 hours in advance to allow other riders to book the spot.
• Frequent cancellations, “no shows” or behavioral issues may result in suspension of ridership privileges.
• The director has the authority to revoke ridership privileges if behavior is not appropriate or safe for other riders.

Alternative Transportation Options

Ridership continues to increase and while we strive to meet as many requests as possible, there will be instances where we cannot accommodate a request. Please keep in mind these other transportation options for times when the Upton Senior Center Transportation is unavailable.

The Tri-Valley Transportation Grant provides accessible transportation services to residents living with their service area who are ages 60 or older, individuals with disabilities, caregivers or veteran’s and spouses. Whether you require transportation to non-emergency medical appointments, social engagements or health and wellness appointments, Tri-Valley can provide assistance to get you where you need to go. Contact 508-949-6640 to for more information or to schedule transportation. Advance reservations required.

MassHealth Transportation. As a MassHealth member, you may be eligible for non-emergency transportation to and from your MassHealth covered services. To find out if you qualify for transportation benefits, please contact MassHealth Customer Service Center at 800-841-2900