Linn County LIFTS is moving to a new location that will allow the department to improve on what it already does best – serve its customers. The move to 5815 4th St. SW in Cedar Rapids, which will be complete by February 3, will provide many benefits, including indoor garage space for the LIFTS fleet of buses, a large maintenance area, an indoor wash bay, and a training area. The phone numbers will not change.
This will be the first time LIFTS has been able to house its buses in a garage overnight. “The garage is a tremendous benefit for us and our customers,” Linn County LIFTS Director Tom Hardecopf said. “Our drivers will no longer have to start the buses outside in sub-zero weather and scrape off snow and ice in the winter. The buses will also warm up faster, saving fuel.”
The facility has an indoor wash bay so the buses can be washed on site year-round. Additionally, the department anticipates fewer mechanical issues with the buses over time because they will not be exposed to outdoor storage in all weather extremes.
“All of these improvements translate into a better experience for our customers,” Hardecopf said. “The safety of our riders is our number one priority. Anything we can do to make their experience better and safer helps us achieve our mission. Our service is not just driving buses; our service is taking care of people.”
Linn County LIFTS is a public transit service providing door-to-door rides for eligible elderly and disabled residents in the metro area of Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha, and public transportation to all Linn County residents outside the metro area. Priority is given to people who are unable to use city buses because of a disability or a disabling health condition.
All LIFTS drivers are first aid and CPR certified.
To learn more about LIFTS, visit LinnCounty.org/LIFTS, and hear directly from a LIFTS customer by watching this video.