With the tap of a button or short phone call, community members living in the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s Ball Club community can request a free ride with the recently expanded transportation service, goMARTI.

Minnesota’s Advanced Rural Transit Innovation, or goMARTI, launched its pilot program three years ago to test free, autonomous and on-demand transportation services in rural Minnesota’s “challenging winter conditions.” Until two months ago, the program primarily served the community of Grand Rapids, providing over 30,000 rides since its initial launch.

The company that manages the project, The PLUM Catalyst, worked with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to bring transportation services to Ball Club, the tribal nation’s southernmost community along Highway 2.

Tammy Meehan Russell, pres

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