Can I get help affording a car?

Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.

What is Medicaid NEMT?

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).

Are there reduced-fare transit options?

Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.

What if I live in a rural area with no bus?

Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.

Transportation in North Dakota

14 verified resources.

About Transportation for Fathers

Transportation assistance helps fathers get to work, court, medical appointments, and childcare. Public transit passes are often available free or discounted through TANF, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), and social service agencies. Many job training programs cover bus passes. The Ways to Work program and some community action agencies provide low-interest car loans to working parents. State DMVs typically require proof of insurance and current registration; low-cost insurance programs exist for low-income drivers in several states (California's Low Cost Auto Insurance is one example). For rural fathers without reliable transit, dial-a-ride and volunteer driver programs are coordinated through Area Agencies on Aging and community action agencies. Medicaid NEMT covers rides to covered medical visits at no cost. This directory includes transit authorities, Medicaid NEMT providers, and car-ownership assistance programs.

Transportation in North Dakota

North Dakota district courts handle family matters across seven judicial districts. The Child Support Division operates under DHHS. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot are the largest cities. Legal Services of North Dakota is the statewide LSC-funded civil legal aid program.

14 Resources

1. MATBUS — Fargo-Moorhead Transit — Paid

Public transit bus service operating fixed routes across the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area including connections to colleges, medical centers, and shopping. The 23rd Street N office is open Mon-Sat 6am-10pm. Call (701) 232-7500 for route and fare information. Standard fares apply; reduced fares available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass. Trip-planning tools are available at matbus.com.

(701) 232-7500 · 650 23rd St N, Fargo, ND 58102 · Mon-Sat 6am-10pm · Visit Website

2. Bis-Man Transit — Paid

Public bus service operating fixed routes and paratransit across the Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan area including connections to government offices, colleges, and shopping. The E Rosser Avenue office is open Mon-Sat 6am-9pm. Call (701) 258-7421 for route and fare information. Standard fares apply; reduced fares available for seniors, students, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass. Trip-planning tools are at bismantransit.com.

(701) 258-7421 · 3750 E Rosser Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501 · Mon-Sat 6am-9pm · Visit Website

3. Cities Area Transit — Grand Forks — Paid

Public transit service operating fixed routes and paratransit across Grand Forks and East Grand Forks including connections to the University of North Dakota campus, medical centers, and shopping. The Demers Avenue office is open Mon-Sat 6am-9pm. Call (701) 746-2600 for route and fare information. Standard fares apply; reduced fares available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass.

(701) 746-2600 · 600 Demers Ave, Grand Forks, ND 58201 · Mon-Sat 6am-9pm · Visit Website

4. Minot City Transit — Paid

Public bus service operating fixed routes across the Minot area connecting residential neighborhoods to downtown, Minot State University, medical centers, and shopping. Service runs Mon-Sat 7am-7pm. Call (701) 857-4145 for route and fare information. Standard fares apply; reduced fares available for students, seniors, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass. Trip-planning tools are available at minotnd.org.

(701) 857-4145 · Minot, ND 58701 · Mon-Sat 7am-7pm · Visit Website

5. ND 211 Transportation Resources — Free

Free 24/7 helpline connecting North Dakota families with gas-card assistance, medical-ride programs, rural volunteer-driver services, and public-transit schedules across all 53 counties. Dial 211 anytime from any phone. Specialists can text or email local referrals based on your ZIP code and trip purpose. Useful for fathers arranging medical or court rides. Have your ZIP code, trip destination, and date needed ready when you call.

211 · Statewide service · 24/7

6. Jefferson Lines — North Dakota — Paid

Intercity motor-coach bus service connecting North Dakota cities including Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, and Minot to regional destinations across the upper Midwest and to Amtrak and airport hubs. Reservations are available 24/7 online at jeffersonlines.com or by phone at (800) 451-5333. Ticket prices vary. Useful for fathers traveling long distances for custody exchanges. Bring photo ID and a printed or mobile ticket when you board.

(800) 451-5333 · Multiple stops statewide · Varies · Visit Website

7. Souris Basin Transportation — Paid

Rural public-transportation provider serving northwest North Dakota communities around Minot and the Souris basin with fixed-route, demand-response, and medical-ride services. The S Main Street office is open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm. Call (701) 839-4299 to schedule a trip or ask about fares. Standard fares apply; reduced fares for seniors, students, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass and call ahead for demand-response trips.

(701) 839-4299 · 11 S Main St, Minot, ND 58701 · Mon-Fri 7am-5pm

8. Southeast Transit — Jamestown — Paid

Demand-response and fixed-route public-transit service serving south-central North Dakota counties based out of Jamestown, useful for fathers without a car needing rides to medical, court, or work appointments. The 3rd Avenue SE office is open Mon-Fri 6:30am-6pm. Call (701) 252-6570 to schedule a trip. Standard fares apply; reduced fares for seniors and people with disabilities. Bring exact change and call ahead for demand-response trips.

(701) 252-6570 · 102 3rd Ave SE, Jamestown, ND 58401 · Mon-Fri 6:30am-6pm

9. Dickinson Area Public Transit — Paid

Local public-transit service for Dickinson and surrounding southwest North Dakota communities offering fixed-route and demand-response rides for work, medical, and school trips. The Museum Drive office is open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm. Call (701) 483-7060 to schedule a trip or ask about fares. Standard fares apply; reduced fares for seniors, students, and people with disabilities. Bring exact change or a prepaid pass and call ahead for demand-response trips.

(701) 483-7060 · 99 Museum Dr, Dickinson, ND 58601 · Mon-Fri 7am-5pm

10. Amtrak Empire Builder — North Dakota — Paid

Long-distance passenger-rail service stopping at multiple North Dakota stations including Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston on the Chicago-Seattle Empire Builder route. Reservations are available 24/7 online at amtrak.com or by phone at (800) 872-7245. Ticket prices vary by seat class and date. Useful for fathers traveling long distances for custody or work. Bring photo ID and a printed or mobile ticket when you board the train.

(800) 872-7245 · Multiple stations: Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Williston · Varies by schedule

11. ND DOT — Statewide Transportation Plan — Free

North Dakota Department of Transportation offers statewide transportation resources, rural-rider programs, ride-sharing matching, and road-condition reports for residents across all 53 counties. The E Boulevard Avenue office in Bismarck is open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Call (701) 328-2581 or visit dot.nd.gov for rideshare tools and program contacts. Most services and info are free. Have your home ZIP code and commute destination ready when you call.

(701) 328-2581 · 608 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

12. Enterprise Rideshare — North Dakota — Paid

Organized carpooling and employer-sponsored vanpool programs for North Dakota commuters, offering monthly subscription vans that reduce driving costs between rural homes and metro worksites. The Fargo regional office is open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm at (701) 234-9977. Visit enterpriserideshare.com to start a vanpool. Monthly fees apply and may be subsidized by some employers. Have your home and work ZIP codes and schedule ready when you inquire.

(701) 234-9977 · Multiple ND locations · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

13. GreenRide — ND Ridesharing — Free

Carpooling and vanpool matching service for North Dakota commuters connecting drivers and riders based on home ZIP code, work location, and shift schedule. Available 24/7 online through the GreenRide portal. Service is free to use. Useful for fathers trying to cut commuting costs and reach jobs in nearby towns. Have your home address, work address, and typical work schedule ready when you create a profile and search for matches.

Online platform · 24/7 online

14. ND 511 Travel Information — Free

Free real-time road conditions, weather alerts, construction updates, and travel advisories for North Dakota highways and interstates, essential for fathers driving long distances in winter or to custody exchanges. Dial 511 anytime from any phone or check the ND DOT website. Service is available 24/7 at no cost. Always check before winter trips. Have your starting point, destination, and planned route ready when you call for conditions.

511 · Statewide service · 24/7

Transportation — Common Questions

Can I get help affording a car?: Some community action agencies and programs like Ways to Work, Wheels to Work, or Good News Garage offer low-interest loans or donated vehicles to working parents. Eligibility typically requires employment or training and income under a threshold. Waitlists can be long.
What is Medicaid NEMT?: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation — Medicaid must cover rides to and from covered medical appointments at no cost. Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule. Rides must be arranged in advance (usually 2–3 business days).
Are there reduced-fare transit options?: Most transit agencies offer reduced fares for seniors, disabled riders, and Medicaid enrollees. TANF and some workforce programs include transit passes. Some employers subsidize transit through pre-tax benefits. Contact your local transit authority for eligibility.
What if I live in a rural area with no bus?: Dial-a-ride services, volunteer driver programs through Area Agencies on Aging, rural transit partnerships, and Medicaid NEMT serve rural residents. Community action agencies coordinate much of this. Call 211 for a local referral.