History

History of CTN

June 1997

• CTN begins as a Transit Planning Committee. Receives a grant from Foellinger Foundation to conduct needs study of unmet transportation needs convened by Turnstone.

April 1998

• Transportation Task Force – Phase I 

  • Committee works with consultant to determine coordination options for human service agencies: Turnstone Center for the Disabled, Allen County Council on Aging, Easter Seals ARC, Brightpoint, and Fort Wayne Community Schools.

May 1999

• Transportation Task Force – Phase II
  • Develop Executive Board to begin the process of creating a new not-for-profit agency to coordinate transportation service.

December 1999

• Community Transportation Consortium begins to create by-laws, etc. to establish the Consortium as a not-for-profit organization.

May 2000

• Community Transportation Consortium changes name to Community Transportation Network, Incorporated (CTN)! The organization is formed and begins the process of establishing a Mobility Management Office and securing staff to execute the strategic plan.

June 2001

• CTN ends its first fiscal year providing medical transportation (1,078 trips) with Turnstone and Allen County Council on Aging operating 3 vans provided by funding from the St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation.

April 2006

• CTN begins operation as a direct provider of medical transportation.

July 2006

• CTN consolidates Turnstone’s operation which increased its capacity for medical transportation by an additional 5 vehicles.

July 2007

• CTN becomes a United Way partner agency.

September 2008

• CTN consolidates 5 school buses from Brightpoint which increases capacity for subscription service.

• CTN moves into new location for office and vehicle storage (20,000 square feet).

2009

• CTN receives national Collaboration Prize quarter-finalist award and also receives Business Weekly Health Care Heroes award. New milestone achievement of 100,000 medical trips since inception.

2011

• The first car is donated to CTN’s Senior Keys, no senior participant. A second car donated to Senior Keys, senior banks account. Three vehicles are leased from Easter Seals ARC.

December 2013 

• CTN purchases and moves to current facility (35,000 square feet) – 5601 Industrial Road.

September 2016

• CTN establishes endowment with Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.

April 2017

• Thanks to our very generous donors, CTN’s mortgage loan is paid off!

June 2017  

• CTN starts providing work trips for people with intellectual disabilities.

November 2017

• CTN is selected by Parade Magazine to represent Indiana in the article “HEROES & HELPERS, Outstanding Charities in Every State”

November 2018

• 33 vehicles fill the CTN garage. Plans begin for a capital campaign for an expansion.

March 2019

• CTN’s Executive Director, Becky Weimerskirch, retires after helping to co-found and eventually lead the organization for 14+ years.

April 2019

• CTN welcomes new Executive Director, Justin Clupper.

June 2019

• FY19 Breaks Records! 104,465 trips provided to 7,458 Riders and 85 Partner Agencies.

July 2020

• CTN announces new mission and vision:
  • Mission: CTN eases the burden of transportation so that more people are able to maintain life-sustaining and purposeful connections in the community.
  • Vision: A community in which all people have the freedom and independence to pursue a fulfilling life.