Options for transit to expand in the County

 Transit options – regardless of age or accessibility issues – will expand in Prince Edward County with approval of a new agreements between the municipality and Quinte Access, of Trenton.

Council is to review reports from the Community Development Department at Tuesday night’s regular meeting.

They includes a new three-year contract for specialized on-demand services, and also recommends a ‘fixed and flex route program’ supported by the Community Transit grant program be facilitated by Quinte Access.

“It remains the priority of this program to transport seniors and those with accessibility issues, however feedback from Quinte Access indicates that this service often has vehicles underutilized,” said Grace Nyman, Community Development Co-ordinator, in her report.

“The ability to find efficiency will help to ensure costs for both transit programs are being well managed, sustainable and have the greatest reach to the members of the community.”

Traditional specialized users will remain the priority of the program and when the opportunity exists other riders will be accommodated. Conventional Transit users would be delivered to the closest conventional transit stop on the new routes being developed and launched in the spring of 2020.

The County and the County Foundation, in collaboration with the Prince Edward County Transportation Project Steering Committee (Vital Signs Getting Around Group) have been developing an integrated plan to expand public transportation in the County.

In May 2018, council endorsed a transit plan but execution was delayed due to the change in government and uncertainty of provincial funding. In August, 2019, the Transfer Payment Agreement was signed by the province.

Nyman notes the County’s agreement for the provision of specialized transit services expired in 2016 and over the last three years, Quinte Access continued to provide quality and cost-efficient services to the County in good faith based on the contract costs established in 2011.

The specialized on-demand transit proposal was submitted with a contract cost of $253,000 per year for the next three years. At 2014 rates, Quinte Access has offered specialized on-demand services in the community at a contract cost of $205,000.

Proposed service includes passengers scheduled for pick-up, five days per week – excluding holidays – Monday to Friday from 0730 to 1630 hours.

The Quinte Access proposal for fixed route service includes trips between Picton and Belleville with stops to be determined through consultation with local employers in an effort to meet employee requirements. It also includes summer weekend runs to help facilitate seasonal employees.

Flex route service options include on-demand scheduled daily runs between Wellington and Picton with stops along the way and transfers to fixed route service for those going to Belleville. There is also an on-demand scheduled daily run along Hwy 33 from Trenton, Consecon, Hillier, Wellington, Bloomfield and Picton and an indeterminate number of runs between Rossmore, Rednersville, Carrying Place, Trenton or Belleville. Fares are yet to be established.

The original grant was awarded for $500,000 over five years but due to time lapses at the province related to bringing forward a transfer payment agreement the program was condensed into three years and the eligible funding changed to $466,025.