Members receive monthly statements that reflect debits for services used and estimate the next month's payment. ITN members who schedule trips in advance or rideshare receive discounts. Currently 80 percent of the seniors using the program voluntarily schedule in advance and 79 percent have indicated they would be willing to rideshare. The system works to minimize cost by giving preference to volunteers over paid drivers, prints maps and instructions for drivers, and tracks miles. It promotes ridesharing by offering discounted rates for shared rides and by calculating the reduced rate.
Economic sustainability is a top priority.
In addition to encouraging seniors to spend money on transportation accounts rather than cars they can't or shouldn't drive, the system employs some innovative funding techniques that include merchant participation and payments from adult children. ITN membership is open to interested members of the business and private communities as well as seniors and their families. A membership format was chosen so seniors feel a sense of ownership and belonging that would help replace the sense of loss some older people feel when they stop driving. Members receive a newsletter, birthday ride certificates, discounts for gift certificate purchases, and incentives for referrals. The program began as a research project that was both publicly and privately funded.