The County of Simcoe's LINX transit project could be expanding again.
At Tuesday morning's committee of the whole meeting, county councillors voted in favour of a new pilot project – an extension to the LINX Plus program – that would add an option where rural residents with disabilities or mobility issues can get picked up from areas outside the normal routes.
Under the current rules, LINX Plus buses will pick up citizens with special needs at their homes or outside the normal pick-up spot only within 400 metres of a stop. Under the new pilot project, drivers will now be able to pick up eligible riders beyond that 400-metre guideline.
“So, if you’re in a wheelchair, for instance, and your mobility is really restricted... we can take them door-to-door,” said David Parks, the county's director of planning, economic development and transit. “If there’s a farmhouse a kilometre down the road from a stop, we’ll be able to pick that person up.”
In order to be eligible, Simcoe County residents will be required to complete an application with a health-care professional confirming the disability. Applications will be reviewed and confirmed for eligibility by the transit department. Once approved, the resident would be added to the LINX Plus Transit User List and can then book rides seven days in advance by calling Service Simcoe.
“We have a little bit more discretion where we can help people on compassionate grounds,” Parks said. “The people who need it really are the people who need it. There are some heartbreaking stories where we wished we could pick people up.”
As the LINX Plus accessible buses already run across the county and the county pays a flat rate for their use, he said there is no expected additional cost for the pilot project. There will also not be an additional cost for users of the service above and beyond the regular rate.
“We’re not treating anybody any differently,” said Parks. “It’s all about helping the people. That’s what it comes down to. Helping the citizens get to where they need to get to.”
The LINX transit service operates along four corridors: Route 1 (Barrie to Penetanguishene), Route 2 (Barrie to Wasaga Beach), Route 3 (Barrie to Orillia) and Route 4 (Wasaga Beach to Collingwood).
Two more routes are planned to be added to the list in 2020, including one that will connect Orillia to Midland and another that will connect Alliston to Bradford.
After the one-year pilot project is complete, a staff report will come back to county council where they would decide whether the project was successful and therefore worth continuing.
The committee's recommendation still needs to be ratified at the Feb. 11 meeting before it is officially approved.
For more information on the LINX Plus program, including how to apply to be a rider, click here.
