Town of Collingwood staff are suggesting a wider net for their search for a new on-demand accessible shuttle service.
Director of engineering, public works, and environmental services, Peggy Slama, delivered an update on the issue to the development and operations committee last night (Oct. 13), stating there would be a staff report as soon as possible with options for the accessible service.
Slama said there’s an option to issue a request for information to find out whether there are any private entities or businesses interested in providing on-demand accessible service to the community.
“We also believe the issuance of a request for information could help staff and our stakeholders understand the true options available to Collingwood for the continuation of this service and that will help us make a decision when we look at these options,” said Slama.
The report will also outline options for working with current providers (Ace Cabs and Red Cross) to “review service and subsidization with an intent to improve what is available today,” said Slama.
Ace Cabs was the most recent provider of on-demand accessible transit service, but notified the town it would no longer be offering the service as of Oct. 1.
Slama said Ace did extend the service for the first week of October and indicated the taxi service may be able to support riders who need accessible shuttle service on a one-off basis.
“I think this is a priority for our committee and I look forward to receiving this report,” said Mayor Brian Saunderson after Slama’s presentation.
Slama told the committee the town is required to provide accessible service, and while it doesn’t have to be on-demand, that is a service that’s been available since 2007.
“Staff and council both understand there is a need in our community,” said Slama. “We wish to investigate options to continue that service.”
In the meantime, she noted, staff are working with Red Cross “to improve the availability of their scheduled transit for our residents.”
Town staff have been working with advocacy groups, the accessibility advisory committee and service providers to create options for the report and address the needs in Collingwood.
The town is also preparing to start a transit study, which Slama said would look at all transit services in general with the aim of improvement across the board. Accessible services will be part of this study.
