Sara Crook exemplifies excellence in travel training through her deeply customer-centered approach, creative partnerships, and unwavering accountability. She manages a wide portfolio of programs serving diverse populations across Hood River and Wasco counties, including Gorge Transit Connect (mobility and fare assistance), Go Vets Columbia Gorge, The Dalles Downtown Pass Program, Summer Youth Riding Programs (Hood River and Wasco counties), The Dalles High School Ride for Rewards Program, Gorge Pass distribution and reconciliation, ADA-related travel training and eligibility support, group travel training initiatives, and regional cross-state coordination with Washington providers .

Sara meets riders exactly where they are. This quarter, she supported a young adult with learning disabilities who secured a job in The Dalles. Sara created customized visual aids with highlighted schedules, added transfer notes, and texted step-by-step trip instructions so the client could reference them independently while riding. She provided in-person transfer support until the rider confidently traveled alone—including independent regional trips to Portland .

She accompanied a new resident with early-onset dementia on her first Dial-A-Ride trip to reduce anxiety and ensure understanding of the process . She worked with a veteran to test a multi-provider route across state lines so he could visit his brother in winter without the burden of driving .

Sara builds sustainable independence and her impact is measurable. From mid-June through the end of the quarter, she coordinated the distribution of more than 250 free and discounted transit passes across both counties—connecting residents to work, healthcare, school, housing, and family .

Sara consistently turns conversations into programs. After learning that The Dalles High School had early-release Wednesdays, she repurposed unused summer incentives into a new “Ride for Rewards” school-year initiative. She secured leadership buy-in, coordinated with local businesses, created promotional materials and tracking systems, and worked with transit staff to ensure operational alignment .

She volunteers monthly at the RISE Center’s Native American Clothing Closet, showing up for our Native American partner organizations and providing culturally responsive transit outreach . She collaborates with tribal partners, housing agencies, community health workers, veterans groups, and chambers of commerce. She works seamlessly with the Washington Travel Trainer to ensure families maintain cross-river access to transit services . Her outreach spans senior living facilities, special learning classrooms, field trips across county lines, youth programs, and regional advisory committees and manages complex program administration with integrity. She oversees pass inventory reconciliation, partner coordination, quarterly reporting, and eligibility processes with consistency and transparency .

She also invests in professional development, completing a five-day Easterseals ADA Complementary Paratransit workshop to refine and simplify her eligibility assessment process—demonstrating her commitment to fairness and continuous improvement .

Sara does more than teach people how to ride the bus. She builds confidence, restores independence, and strengthens regional mobility systems through leadership, compassion, and accountability.

For these reasons, we enthusiastically nominate Sara Crook for Frances Rankos Excellence in Travel Training .

Kathy Fitzpatrick, MCEDD Regional Mobility Manager
Jesus Mendoza, The Link Public Transit Operations Manager
Tiah Mayhew, Office Manager, Columbia Area Transit