ELORA – The Fergus-Elora Seniors Trans will cease operations at the end of the year.
President Randy Graham attributed the decision to end the service on Dec. 31 to a number of factors.
“It’s been running … since 1985 and it’s been running basically on donations mostly from … service clubs,” Graham said in an interview with the Advertiser.
He explained the service was limited to two days per week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, “simply because of the volunteer drivers that they could get to do it.”
Supporting service clubs included the Fergus-Elora Rotary Club, Fergus Lions Club and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 275 Fergus. Their donations went into purchasing a new vehicle when the current vehicle got old.
“The rate of the donations that came in were not going to keep pace with that plan because those vehicles are very expensive and the current vehicle right now is a little over 10 years old and it was starting to cost more to service it and keep it on the road,” Graham said.
The service clubs chose to move on from Seniors Trans to support other projects, Graham said.
A one-way trip cost $4 but that wasn’t making enough to keep the program viable, Graham said, especially with the limited days the service was available and the 50 to 60 riders who could be served.
“They ran out of money and … looking into the future there really was no way to expand it because it’s limited by the number of people that will volunteer drive because you can’t pay the drivers,” he explained.
The Fergus-Elora Senior Trans executive recently sent a notice announcing the end of the service to the Advertiser that thanked drivers.
“To our volunteer drivers, you are to be commended for your volunteer spirit and the service you have provided in a friendly, courteous manner, always with the rider’s safety and comfort in mind,” states the notice.
Originally the service was offered for seniors and veterans because, in 1985, there weren’t a lot of accessible transportation options.
Now, there are other options, including Fergus-Elora Taxi’s wheelchair accessible van.
“That was a service that came along about a year ago that would offer that service to patrons in the Fergus Elora area,” Graham said.
He also noted Wellington County’s Ride Well program opened up possibilities for people looking for transportation options five days a week.
For veterans, there is now a transportation service, offered through Veterans Affairs Canada, to which they can apply for assistance.
The Seniors Trans notice also thanked riders.
“To our regular riders, it has been an honour to have you aboard ‘the bus’ and we thank you for your patronage and hope you can understand our decision,” it states.
Graham said many regular riders have already reached out to other options.
