Benefits · Transportation
How to apply for Highlands County Transportation (NU-HOPE TD + Heartland Rides Network)
NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc. (Highlands County designated TD operator under Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged); Heartland Rides regional information and referral hub
Who it's for
Highlands County does not operate a fixed-route public bus system — transit options are coordinated through NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, Inc., the local nonprofit that operates Highlands County's Florida Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) service. NU-HOPE provides curb-to-curb shared-ride transportation for seniors age 60 and older, individuals with disabilities, and low-income residents to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential destinations. NU-HOPE also serves Hardee County under the same operational umbrella, creating a two-county integrated paratransit footprint. Heartland Rides (heartlandrides.org), a regional partnership created in 2020 by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, is the central information and referral hub for understanding the full range of Highlands transportation options across NU-HOPE, Comfort Keepers, Highlands Transportation, and other providers. For Highlands seniors, the most efficient way to find current transportation options is to contact NU-HOPE directly or use Heartland Rides as a navigation starting point.
Highlands has NO fixed-route public bus system. NU-HOPE's TD service is the primary county-coordinated transit option for seniors, requiring advance scheduling per trip. The two-county NU-HOPE operation (Highlands + Hardee) means Highlands seniors with appointments in Hardee — or vice versa — can use the same agency intake. For broader transit options including private senior transportation services and medical transport, Heartland Rides at heartlandrides.org provides a regional information and referral hub. For Highlands veterans, the VA also operates DAV vans to the Bay Pines VA Medical Center (call the Bay Pines VA Volunteer Services for schedules).
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ OR disability OR low-income eligibility (Medicare card, Florida ID, physician note for disability, income documentation)
- Proof of Highlands County residency
- Pre-registration with NU-HOPE for TD-pathway eligibility (advance scheduling required for each trip)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 863-385-3107
Renewals
periodic re-registration; rides scheduled per trip
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.