PERTH-WELLINGTON – The Ministry of Transportation is touting a $3.4 million injection of provincial funding for transit projects in this riding.
Through the Community Transportation Grant Program, Wellington County will receive $449,500, while Perth County and the City of Stratford will each receive $1,449,345, states a Jan. 25 press release from Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece.
Wellington County aims to develop a demand-based ride-sharing system that will service the entire county. The service is expected to launch in April.
Wellington County previously announced plans for its share of the funding on June 28.
Contacted by the Advertiser, county treasurer Ken DeHart confirmed the funds were originally announced under the previous Liberal government.
“When the PC government took office, a number of programs were under review and this one was in jeopardy,” DeHart explained in an email.
DeHart said, “It looks like we have received the positive news today that this project will, in fact, move forward.”
Pettapiece stated the funding “will help seniors, students, persons with disabilities and the average Ontarian access essential services in their community. Perth-Wellington has an extremely low unemployment rate. Businesses consistently tell me that it is difficult to retain employees due to the lack of transit between communities and into the riding.”
Minister of Transportation Jeff Yurek said the province is “working with municipalities to support programs that will help Ontarians stay connected to their communities, so they can access employment and social programs, attend appointments, visit friends and family, and maintain an independent and active lifestyle.”
The Perth County Transit System aims to link tStratford, St. Marys, Mitchell, Sebringville, Monkton, Atwood, Milverton, Listowel, and Millbank. In addition, the funding will help create a Stratford/Perth Regional Transportation Service connecting communities to services in London and Kitchener.
