Wheelchair Accessible
Shuttle Under Review
-- Council Hears From Service Users --
Collingwood Council, members of the Accessibility Committee and local Red Cross Officials celebrated the arrival of a new Collingwood Red Cross Accessible Transit Vehicle with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in front of Town Hall. Now the service is under review.
Collingwood Council has heard from users of the shuttle and is considering the future of the service. When the service was introduced last summer, town officials predicted a ridership of 700. However, one year later, ridership came in at only 400, prompting council to look into what was working, and what wasn't working with the important service.
Leonard Jones was Canada's first Tim Horton's "Timmy" while living in Montreal. Mr. Jones now lives in Craigleith and told council that he counts on the new shuttle service for transportation. Jones told council that he was the very first patient in the Montreal Children's Hospital. "It's very difficult for us to get into town sometimes and I have to depend upon the shuttle to get me back and forth. I've been using it quite frequently lately" Jones told council. "We need more opportunity to be able to get out after 6pm without having the reserve the vehicle" Jones said.
Collingwood resident Casey Morrison also told council of the need for the shuttle service to continue past 6pm. Morrison pointed out that there are times that he would like to go out to visit friends in the evening, but the shuttle is not available to him on such short notice.
Mayor Chris Carrier said that he will be speaking to government ministers regarding possible future increased funding. "Well I think when I speak to our government ministers, and they are giving us funds for capital expenditures for the gas tax rebate, it would also be nice to ask for support in operational expenses as well" Carrier told council.
One Year Ago
Mayor Chris Carrier, members of Collingwood Council, Red Cross Officials and members of the Collingwood Accessibility Committee took part in a special ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome the Town's new accessible transit vehicle on Tuesday July 3rd last year. Mayor Carrier took time to congratulate Accessibility Committee members for their hard work behind the scenes to help bring the new vehicle to Collingwood. Carrier said Council was totally committed to the project, adding that it was very important for the Town to improve the transit system by providing a new, accessible, transit vehicle.
Collus CAO Ed Houghton, Sherrill Ann Monaghan and Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier demonstrated the capabilities of the Town's new Accessible Transit Vehicle when the vehicle was introduced last summer.
