Benefits · Transportation
How to apply for Franklin County Transit — Big Bend Transit + Arc on the Gulf + ECCC Senior Transportation
Franklin County's layered transit ecosystem includes (1) Big Bend Transit — regional paratransit operator serving Franklin and Gulf Counties under the Florida Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program; (2) Arc on the Gulf — 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering Rides for Public to Franklin and Gulf County residents; and (3) Elder Care Community Council (ECCC, 'E Triple C') of Franklin County — local AAA delivery partner providing supplemental senior transportation
Who it's for
Franklin County has the same layered three-source transit ecosystem as its coastal Panhandle neighbor Gulf County. (1) Big Bend Transit operates regional paratransit serving Franklin AND Gulf Counties — providing TD-program paratransit for individuals with disabilities, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation, and general public transportation for medical appointments, work, and grocery store trips. (2) Arc on the Gulf is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering Rides for Public to any resident of Franklin or Gulf County — phone 850-229-6550. (3) Elder Care Community Council (ECCC) of Franklin County provides supplemental senior transportation coordinated with its hot lunch program at Holy Family Senior Center. Franklin County does NOT operate a fixed-route bus system — all options are demand-response paratransit. Eligibility for the TD-program-funded pathway uses the Florida TD framework: age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income transportation-disadvantaged status. Trip purposes include non-emergency medical (commonly to George E. Weems Memorial Hospital in Apalachicola), shopping, work, and other daily needs. Advance reservations are required for all services. Distinctive geography: Franklin spans Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, and Carrabelle — coastal communities with longer cross-county trip distances than typical small FL counties.
Franklin County's three-source transit model mirrors Gulf County's because Big Bend Transit and Arc on the Gulf serve both counties as a regional pair. For seniors, calling ECCC at the integrated intake gets transportation + hot lunch + LIHEAP referral coordinated in one conversation; for general public transportation, Arc on the Gulf's 850-229-6550 is the simplest path. For tertiary medical care to Tallahassee (about 90 minutes north), Big Bend Transit can arrange longer-distance trips with adequate advance notice. Franklin's coastal geography spans Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, and Carrabelle — cross-county trips within Franklin can be substantial (Carrabelle to Apalachicola is ~30 minutes); plan accordingly. Franklin County does NOT operate a fixed-route bus system — same-day rides are typically not available.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income TD eligibility (Medicare card, Florida ID, physician note, income documentation)
- Proof of Franklin County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For TD-program paratransit (Big Bend Transit): completed TD eligibility application
- For Arc on the Gulf: registration with the nonprofit
- Advance reservation (typically 24-48 hours)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-229-6550
Renewals
periodic re-registration; rides scheduled per trip with advance booking
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.