Benefits · Transportation

How to apply for Big Bend Transit — Taylor County Door-to-Door Paratransit

Big Bend Transit, Inc. — independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit; designated Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for the Florida Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program in Taylor County (and Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, Gulf); door-to-door paratransit for the coastal Big Bend region

Who it's for

Big Bend Transit is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving as the designated Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for the Florida Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program across a six-county region: Taylor, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Madison, and Gulf. Big Bend Transit operates door-to-door paratransit for people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income riders in Taylor County — including Perry (the county seat), Steinhatchee, Salem, and the coastal communities along the Big Bend. Eligibility uses the Florida TD framework: age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income transportation-disadvantaged status. Trip purposes include non-emergency medical (commonly to Doctors' Memorial Hospital in Perry locally OR Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare in Leon County for tertiary care), shopping, work, and other daily needs. Online ride booking is available for registered customers. Reservations can be made by calling Big Bend Transit at 850-627-9958 no later than 2:00 p.m. the day before the trip — same reservation system used across Big Bend Transit's six-county region.

Taylor County does have a local hospital (Doctors' Memorial Hospital, fl.taylor.doctors_memorial_hospital_perry), so Big Bend Transit trips for routine medical care can stay in-county. For tertiary or specialty care beyond DMH-Perry's scope, Taylor seniors travel to Leon County (Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, about 70 minutes north) — advance scheduling and longer trip planning required. Coastal community residents (Steinhatchee, Salem) face longer distances to Perry; advance reservation timing matters. Florida TD framework's three-pathway eligibility (60+ OR disability OR low-income) is broad. Same operator and reservation framework as fl.gadsden.big_bend_transit, fl.jefferson.big_bend_transit_jefferson, fl.madison.big_bend_transit_madison, fl.gulf.gulf_county_transit, fl.franklin.franklin_county_transit.

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 Taylor County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
Completed Big Bend Transit / Florida TD eligibility application
Advance reservation by 2:00 p.m. the day before the trip; online booking available for registered customers

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 850-627-9958

Renewals

periodic re-registration; rides scheduled per trip with advance booking

Official source →Last verified · June 3, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.