St. Luke's Hospital Collinsville has teamed up with Ride TFT for an expansion in services.
In the city of Twin Falls, a collaborative effort is underway to enhance public transit services. This initiative, as mentioned in the pilot program with St. Luke's, aims to expand the reach of Ride TFT, a public transportation service that has been operational since 2023[1].
Ride TFT currently charges a standard fee of $3 per ride[1]. The service has recently seen a boost in visibility, with the College of Southern Idaho sponsoring a wrap on one of the Ride TFT vans.
The partnership between St. Luke's and Ride TFT was established to provide rides for discharged inpatients. A dedicated Ride TFT van parks outside the hospital’s discharge center from 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, ready to pick up patients who live in Twin Falls and lack transportation[1]. This collaboration addresses a previous issue where discharged patients could not leave their rooms and get to a ride within the limited wait time of drivers.
Maxine Durand, the city's transit coordinator, played a significant role in this partnership. However, she resigned from her position in late June, before her candidacy for governor as an unaffiliated candidate was announced in 2026[1]. The city is currently filling the vacant transit coordinator position.
St. Luke's has shown interest in expanding the partnership with Ride TFT beyond the pilot program, which is set to end in September[1]. Potential expansions could include offering transportation services to patients at the emergency department and cancer centre.
Ride TFT drivers arrive and wait a few minutes, but may leave if no one shows up[1]. The service is inviting local businesses to advertise on the vans with a vehicle wrap.
The city plans to replace the original fleet of seven Ride TFT vans with new Toyota Siennas. Funding for the first two years of Ride TFT came from a $3 million grant from the Idaho Transportation Department. Now, the city is pursuing Federal Transit Administration funding[1].
[1] Source: Local News, Twin Falls Times-News, various articles from June 2023 to June 2025.
- Maxine Durand, while serving as the city's transit coordinator, played a crucial role in establishing a partnership between St. Luke's and Ride TFT, to provide transportation for discharged inpatients who lack options.
- With the College of Southern Idaho sponsoring a wrap on one of the Ride TFT vans, the public transportation service has recently increased its visibility.
- The finance industry might see more involvement with the health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise sectors, as St. Luke's has shown an interest in expanding its partnership with Ride TFT, potentially offering services for patients at the emergency department and cancer center.
- Aiming to enhance public transit services in Twin Falls, the city is intending to replace the original Ride TFT vans with new Toyota Siennas, and is seeking Federal Transit Administration funding to support the project.
