HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-02-11, Page 16County council heard apresentation at the Feb. 3 meeting onthe new transporation service in
Huron and Perth Counties.
Melanie Higgins and Shelley
McPhee-Haist of Town and Country
Support Services-Huron offered
information on EasyRide, a service
shared by community support
agencies in the county.
Community support programs
manager Shelley McPhee-Haist
provided background on Town and
County and its services which
support seniors, frail elderly
residents and the disabled. In Huron
the organization employs 200 people
and has 460 volunteers.
The key to independent living in
Huron, said McPhee-Haist is
transportation and demand has been
growing.
Melanie Higgins, T&CSS’s lead
on transportation services explained
that the Southwest Local Health
Integration Network (LHIN)
identified transportation as
something that was important and
Huron and Perth “came together to
put a system in place.”
The agencies in Huron are T&CSS
and the Midwestern Adult Day
Services.
Higgins said that there are 25
agency vehicles and it is expected
that they will make 50,000 trips per
year. “We have made 28,000 trips
since it started in June. Town and
Country has over 1,000 a month.”
Though there is one office and one
number to call for both counties, the
intake program is still local, said
Higgins. To use EasyRide, people must beregistered clients with a communitysupport service, like Town andCountry, said Higgins. The cost for transportation varies.
In-town trips are based on flat rates
and out-of-town trips are priced by
the kilometre.
In response to a question from
councillor Tim Collyer of Central
Huron, McPhee-Haist said people
wanting to register should contact
Town and County. “There will be a
home visit, just to see what the needs
are,” she said. “We do a complete
assessment and once they are
registered they are able to call
EasyRide.”
Morris-Turnberry councillor
Dorothy Kelly mentioned that this
seems to be a duplication with
Wheels Away, adding that the former
may disband. A meeting was
planned and if this was a duplication
then “it may be the end of our
transit.”
She wondered if that happened
what options there would be for the
Bruce County people currently using
Wheels Away.
Higgins said that there is currently
a service in Bruce which is looking
at a model similar to EasyRide.
“Well, we have to look at our
service. There’s no point in
duplicating.”
Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt
praised the initiative. “I think it’s
fantastic. It’s bound to make things
easier and at a better cost.”
Councillor Max Demaray of
Howick asked if there were any
assurances the funding would
continue.
Higgins said the funding fromLHINs had been to create thepartnership. “The delivery of service wasn’t included. But with the agingpopulation I don’t anticipate thatfunding will be taken away.”She also noted that the partnershiphas been a role model for others.“All eyes are on us.”PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010.
The band played on
Members of the Seaforth Marching Girls Band were on stage Friday night for the opening of
the Epic Shift Youth Festival held at Memorial Hall in Blyth all weekend. (Vicky Bremner photo)
County council learns more about EasyRide
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