CTN East - Community Transportation Network

- 3401 Maplecrest Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803

For many Indiana residents, particularly seniors and individuals living with a disability, reliable transportation is not a luxury—it is an absolute necessity for maintaining health, independence, and connection to the Fort Wayne community. The Community Transportation Network (CTN), operating the CTN East location, is a dedicated non-profit organization established with the mission to “ease the burden of transportation so that more people are able to maintain life-sustaining and purposeful connections in the community.” Unlike a typical, for-profit 'car rental' service, CTN provides a vital lifeline through specialized, accessible transportation services.

CTN focuses on serving specific populations in Allen County, including seniors, people with disabilities, children, and low-income families, ensuring they can access essential destinations like medical appointments, therapy, and vital community resources. This service is a foundational element of the Fort Wayne social services infrastructure, designed to overcome the significant transportation barriers that can impede success and full participation in community life. By operating on a non-profit model, CTN can offer services that are often more specialized and financially accessible than commercial options, with fees often discounted based on income and trip frequency.

While the organization aims to provide excellent service, as highlighted by one user's experience, operational challenges in communication can occur. It is important for new riders to understand that CTN is a scheduled, specialized service, not an on-demand taxi. They are highly focused on complex transportation needs that involve specialized equipment and routes planned for efficiency across a large clientele base. The vast majority of their work involves the "life-sustaining and purposeful" trips that keep our most vulnerable residents connected to care.

Prospective riders are encouraged to be proactive in the scheduling process, typically calling several business days in advance, as the service is in high demand, to secure the critical, specialized assistance that CTN is designed to provide.

The CTN East location is situated in a central area of Fort Wayne, Indiana, allowing the organization to strategically serve the needs of residents throughout Allen County. As a provider of specialized handicapped transportation, their physical facilities and vehicle fleet are deeply committed to meeting the highest standards of accessibility.

• Address: 3401 Maplecrest Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803, USA. This location helps facilitate routes across the east and wider Fort Wayne area.
• Non-Profit Status: CTN operates as a Non-Profit Organization, with its mission centered on community service rather than commercial revenue, allowing them to focus on underserved transportation needs.
• Comprehensive Accessibility: The facility, which may serve as a dispatch or administrative hub, is designed to be fully accessible, demonstrating their commitment to the population they serve.
• Designated Accessible Features: The location features a Wheelchair Accessible Entrance, Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot, Wheelchair Accessible Restroom, and Wheelchair Accessible Seating.

The range of services offered by CTN is deliberately tailored toward specialized needs, ensuring comprehensive support for individuals who cannot utilize standard public transit or taxi services. The focus is on door-through-door assistance, not just curb-side drop-off.

• Handicapped Transportation Service: Providing safe and compassionate transport for individuals with physical or developmental disabilities and special needs.
• Medical Transportation (NEMT): Transport for essential health-related travel, including all scheduled Medical Appointments, Medical Trips, and general access to Medical Care.
• Therapy Appointments: Reliable, scheduled transport to critical rehabilitation and Therapy Appointments, which are essential for recovery and ongoing health management.
• Door Ride Service: Offering a higher level of service where drivers assist riders from the door of their residence to the vehicle, and from the vehicle to the destination door.
• Specialized Transportation: Catering to clients with diverse and complex needs through specialized vehicles and trained personnel.
• Bariatric Wheelchair Transport: Equipped to safely transport individuals requiring specialized, oversized Bariatric Wheelchairs, addressing a critical need for many users.
• Group Trips: Coordinating transportation for partner Non-Profit organizations, schools, or senior living facilities for outings or organized events.
• Home Services/Errands: Providing support for essential non-medical trips, such as getting to the pharmacy, bank, or grocery store, allowing seniors and disabled individuals to maintain independence.
• Engineering Services: While not a direct transport service for individuals, this may relate to their internal capacity for maintaining their specialized fleet or offering consultative services in transportation logistics.

CTN's distinct advantages stem directly from its non-profit, community-focused foundation and its commitment to accessibility that serves as a cornerstone of its operation.

• Specialized Accessible Fleet: The network utilizes transit vans and buses that are lift-equipped, ensuring all riders, regardless of mobility device, can board and exit safely and with dignity.
Bariatric Capability: A key feature is the ability to accommodate Bariatric Wheelchairs, which addresses a significant gap in standard commercial transportation options.
• Door-Through-Door Assistance: Drivers are trained to provide a level of assistance that includes hand-in-hand support, helping clients navigate from inside their building to the vehicle.
• Affordable, Sliding-Scale Fees: As a non-profit, fees are often discounted and based on the rider's household income, making essential transportation accessible to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• Community Focus: Revenue generated from charters and standard fares helps fund the highly subsidized medical transportation programs for those who need it most, meaning every trip helps the greater community.
• Internal Amenities: Vehicles and/or the facility are equipped with Restrooms, contributing to client comfort, especially during longer trips or wait times.

Scheduling and general inquiries for the Community Transportation Network (CTN East) can be made using the following official contact points. Due to high demand for their specialized service, it is highly recommended that Indiana residents call several business days in advance to request a ride.

• Address: 3401 Maplecrest Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803, USA (CTN East Location)
• Phone (Scheduling/Inquiries): (260) 420-3280
• Mobile Phone: +1 260-420-3280
• Primary Service Type: Non-Profit Organization focused on Handicapped Transportation Service and Specialized Transportation.

For residents of Fort Wayne and Allen County, the Community Transportation Network (CTN East) is worth choosing primarily because of its fundamental commitment to social equity and specialized care. Unlike commercial options, CTN’s purpose is not profit; it is connecting people to "life-sustaining" necessities. Choosing CTN means accessing a system that is deliberately structured to eliminate the most challenging transportation barriers for seniors and the disabled in Indiana.

The availability of specialized services like Bariatric Wheelchair transport and their true door-through-door assistance is often the only viable option for many individuals who cannot be left unattended or require complex transfer assistance. Furthermore, the sliding fee scale makes vital medical and therapy appointments affordable for low-income families, ensuring financial limitations do not become health crises. While one customer’s review suggests that communication on non-medical or complex administrative requests may sometimes be challenging, the core value of CTN—providing consistent, specialized transport for medical care and independence—remains essential.

By utilizing CTN, Fort Wayne residents are not only securing a ride but also directly supporting a non-profit model that channels all resources back into improving and expanding accessible services for the community. For anyone in Indiana with a senior or family member with a disability who requires more than a simple taxi—but a partner in accessible movement—CTN is the reliable, socially conscious choice.

CTN East - Community Transportation Network

3401 Maplecrest Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46803, USA