County councillors, particularly those in the two northern municipalities of Wellington County, had plenty of interest after hearing about a Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) system on March 31.
SMART manager Roger Cook provided details about the system that serves specialized public transit to residents or Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Hanover, Kincardine, and West Grey Township.
The non-profit operation is run by member municipalities, and provides transportation for people who are mentally or physically handicapped, or who are unable to use conventional taxis or transit.
Cook said the emphasis is particularly on those who use wheelchairs.
He said he and Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout and Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj had a “very successful” meeting with Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne at a recent conference in Toronto.
Tout said, “Wellington North is taking a serious look at” such a system. He said it is a “huge positive” that the drivers will pick up people living in the countryside. He added that small businesses cannot profitably buy specialized vans or taxis for services to the handicapped, and this seems to be a viable system.
Cook said operational and capital purchases are covered by the province, and the system is currently receiving sound provincial government funding.
Councillor Bruce Whale wondered what percentage use of the system Cook has, and what percentage increase the operators would like to add to what it currently does.
Cook said the system has “a fair bit of capacity” and noted that small buses, rather than vans, appears to be the best way to operate. He said small vans can accommodate one wheelchair, but the buses can take four or five and they are nicer to drive.
The SMART system currently had 13 vehicles, because when new ones were purchased last year, the old ones were kept for extra use. He said six or seven vehicles are in use every day, and the extras are now spare vehicles.
The MTO funds the system through Hanover. He added that the provincial gas tax is specific to transit.
Warden Chris White noted that rural municipalities have argued that rural municipalities should be obtaining gas tax credits for transit.
Cook noted rides can be given anywhere in Ontario, but they must be paid for. “Ottawa is okay,” he said, but added there are insurance problems for people who want to travel outside of Ontario.
The system has a toll free number, and can communicate by email and website. Drivers are dispatched by cell phone and email. Those drivers are paid for their services.
SMART has one large bus for group outings, two mid-sized adopted buses, one full size adapted van, one regular mini-van, and eight adapted mini-vans.
It has budgeted $456,000 in revenue for 2011 and that includes:
– $315,000 provided by partner municipalities;
– $135,500 in user fees; and
– $5,500 in donations.
Cook said the baseline amount of revenue for 2011 is $423,333, and it is “critical” to meet that revenue target and exceed it – in order to obtain the gas tax reserve. The province increases its payments by 2% every year.
The rides are not free. Cook said clients are charged $2 plus $0.80 per kilometre. The minimum is $6.80 per ride with six kilometres built into the fee.
A ride is defined as a one-way trip, and the return home is a second trip.
If people need to go to a doctor or shopping, or wait for services, the transit fee is $17 per hour for that wait.
One attendant can ride for free with a client. Group outings will vary in price.
Cook said if people need to be, for example, in London for a hospital appointment at 8am, they can be picked up, with prior arrangements, at 5am or earlier.
He said as SMART looks to the future there are many benefits. First, there is an aging population and a growing number of seniors’ homes and people need transportation, SMART is the largest Ministry of Transportation supported specialized transit provider in Grey and Bruce Counties, and it can provide non-emergency medical transportation to ambulatory and wheelchair patients, and that can free up Emergency Medical Services ambulance attendants who are sometimes called upon to provide that service.
Councillor Jean Innes said the cost seems high “for someone living on a small budget.”
Cook said the long term goal is to lower the user fee. He said SMART has the third-highest user fee in the province, and, “That needs to come down.” He said where it might be made up is new municipal money, and he is looking at “dialing back the user rates.” He added that most places in the province charge about $4.
Councillor Mark MacKenzie asked if the service will be provided to people who are not living among the municipal members.
Cook said it will not, and he noted with a smile that some “clients” have told dispatch they can be picked up in towns in the coverage area.
“I’ve had calls from Wellington North and Minto … We’ve had calls from people lying about where they live. The service is provided for anyone who calls who lives in a member municipality.
Councillor Don McKay asked, “How far and wide are you willing to go? Will you expand to all of Wellington?
Cook said, “To take in Wellington County top to bottom … would be a big bite all at once. I could envision a system of Grey-Bruce-Wellington if we bring in enough management.”
He added, though, he would “prefer one or two municipalities at a time and to build from there. It may be difficult at a county level, with some getting it and others wanting it. People need the service.”
Tout asked about provincial funding.
Cook said MTO has a cap on funding that is 75% of local spending. “It’s not a bottomless pit.”
Tout replied, “It’s nice they recognize the need north of Highway 401.”
County councillor George Bridge said of Minto, “We’re pretty interested in this as well. We have a need for this.”
He said he lived in Hanover for eight years, and SMART is “a well respected service.”
Cook said the mini-vans cost $47,000 each because of the work that is needed to make them accessible, and private sector taxis are $25,000. “Financing in the private sector is terrible,” he said because of that cost.
Councillor Ken Chapman asked if the service will operate 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Cook said it can if arrangements are made in advance. He said there are usually calls for Christmas day and New Years, and at other times of the year for such things as weddings and birthday parties. He said that is “by appointment service” and has to be done in advance.
White summed up the presentation by stating, “Obviously, there’s a lot of interest in this.”
He thanked Cook for his presentation.
It was county councillor Gary Williamson who helped arrange for Cook’s presentation. He has been working on the transportation issue since the start of the year.
