Stephen Vance, Staff
The Municipality of Meaford is set to launch its new scheduled public transit program on Monday, September 19, and for the first two weeks residents can ride the service for free.
“For the two week soft launch of the transit system from September 19 to October 2, the fare will be free. Beginning on October 3, all fares will be $4.00. Children under 3 ride free with a parent or guardian,” advised the municipality in the announcement of the official launch of the pilot project.
At their July 18 meeting, Meaford council gave unanimous final approval to an in-town public transit one-year pilot project comprised of an in-town, fixed route, which will utilize the under-used municipal Handi-van.
Those who have been registered users of the door-to-door municipal Handi-van service, which provides transportation to those with disabilities and mobility issues, will still be able to continue using the service with revised hours of operation.
“Specialized transit services for eligible residents with mobility limitations will continue to be offered Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,” advised the municipality.
In July, Meaford’s Treasurer, Darcy Chapman, told council that the Handi-van currently serves roughly 350 registered users. In 2015, the Handi-van accommodated 4,449 trips: of those, 107 were for wheelchair users, 2,532 were for general mobility issues, and 1,790 were relating to a contract with the school board that has been discontinued in order to make the vehicle available for the pilot project.
“The 2016 Handi-van annual operating budget was $95,750, with total operating revenues of approximately $22,500. The operating subsidy is provided partially through (provincial) Gas Tax funds with the majority provided by the Municipality, and in 2016 is expected to be approximately $67,250, or approximately $15.12 per passenger trip should the ridership remain similar to 2015,” noted Chapman in his July 4 report.
Nearly 95 percent of all trips in the Handi-van under the previous system were within the urban core, from the Valu-mart plaza in the east and the medical clinic in the west.
Chapman told council that addition of the public transit service could help ease the frustration that urban area residents who don’t drive are experiencing with the recent closure of the downtown Foodland grocery store.
The transit system will operate from Monday to Friday on the following route:
“We are so happy to be able to offer this creative solution to address a community need,” said Mayor Barb Clumpus of the launch of the service.
