Watertown was a big winner during an awards ceremony at the 2016 Dakota Transit Association Fall Conference in Spearfish.
Watertown Area Transit Inc. was named the Innovative Agency of the Year in the State of South Dakota; Wendy Cline, the assistant director of Watertown Area Transit, won the Support Staff of the Year award, and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System was named the S.D. Friend of Transit.
The Watertown Area Transit, in partnership with Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, offers Watertown area residents free rides to and from medical appointments. Prairie Lakes was honored mainly for its financial support toward proving free rides to any medical appointment. More than 10,000 passengers have used the service since the program began in April, 2015.
Details about the partnership:
Residents may use the transit service to travel to and from medical appointments at all Prairie Lakes Healthcare System locations, Brown Clinic and Sanford Clinic; as well as to dental, vision, hearing, chiropractor, mental health, pharmacy, and community health nurse appointments. Prairie Lakes will reimburse Watertown Area Transit for the cost of these rides.
Watertown area residents who would like to use the free ride service to medical appointments should call Watertown Area Transit at 605-882-5287 to schedule rides. Rides must be scheduled by 3 p.m. the day prior to when the ride is needed. Watertown Area Transit does not offer same-day or emergency transportation. All residents are reminded that in a medical emergency to call 911 for immediate assistance.