NEW HAVEN, Ind. – Community Transportation Network (CTN) will break ground Monday on a satellite garage that paves the way for a bright future. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 16 at 3401 S. Maplecrest Rd. in New Haven.
A private 501(c)(3) organization, CTN has worked for two decades to ease the burden of transportation, so more people are able to maintain life-sustaining and purposeful connections in the community. The organization provides rides to seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families, children, and youth, as well as the nonprofits that serve them. In an ordinary year, CTN provides about 100,000 rides to nearly 9,000 individuals.
The new facility brings short-term and long-term benefits. When it opens in January 2022, the 15,000-square-foot garage will immediately provide an indoor space to house 18 transit vans. This will make service more reliable in the winter months for people with mobility challenges—cold temperatures can cause the vans’ attached hydraulic lifts to freeze up overnight. The garage’s location will also help CTN offer more efficient service for riders in southeast Fort Wayne and east Allen County, saving time and fuel costs.
The garage can be expanded to 52,500 square feet, giving CTN the space to more than triple the number of vehicles in its fleet in future years.
“This project puts us in a position to dramatically increase our impact,” said Justin Clupper, executive director of CTN. “Whether we’re driving someone to a doctor’s appointment, to work, or to a field trip, we’re proud to help people stay connected to the community and live fuller lives.”
The groundbreaking is the culmination of nearly three years of work; CTN’s board began exploring options for expansion in early 2019. The organization is acquiring six acres of property surrounding the construction site on South Maplecrest Road.
About half of the land is being donated by the Memmer family, owners of Truck Maintenance, Inc., CTN’s vehicle maintenance vendor which is located next door to the construction site. Other lead donors for the project include the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation, AWS Foundation, and the McMillen Foundation.
“I can’t thank our donors enough,” Clupper said. “Because of their generosity, we’ll be able to hit the ground running in New Haven and fully set our focus on serving the community.”
CTN will continue operating its current facility at 5601 Industrial Rd. in north Fort Wayne, eventually giving the organization the flexibility to dispatch vehicles from either of the two locations.
The groundbreaking is open to the public. At noon, the Memmer family will provide a pre-groundbreaking lunch of barbecued pulled pork and smoked mac and cheese from their 12-foot smoker. Attendees are asked to RSVP at RideCTN.org/Groundbreaking.
Parking will be available at Truck Maintenance, Inc., and other nearby locations as directed upon arrival. Though the section of road was renamed as South Maplecrest Road in January, some mapping services still list Truck Maintenance Inc.’s address as 3125 Adams Center Rd. See the following links for location and directions:
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About Community Transportation Network (CTN)
CTN wants to provide full access to community resources through friendly transportation services for seniors, persons with disabilities, children, youth, and the agencies that support them. CTN is an effective and dependable transportation alternative in Fort Wayne and Allen County. We are a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency using a variety of resources to help break down transportation barriers in our community. Learn more at ridectn.org.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs, and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention, and community engagement.
