In partnership with Pelham Cares, the town has applied for a two-year community transportation pilot grant.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has set up a $1 million program to provide money to towns and cities to plan and start local community transportation projects.
Town staff met with local organizations and regional staff to see if Pelham could fit into the program.
It is intended to assist those without transportation such as seniors and disabled; to build demand in areas unable to provide regular or specialized transit; and create networks of coordinated community transportation services with existing services “to provide more rides, to more people to more destinations.”
Pelham priorities, the recreation department said in a report Monday, will be to identify needs and increase Pelham Cares existing program of driving seniors to medical appointments.
It will also try to implement an inter municipal transit system using an existing provider.
It wants to connect the town’s villages with businesses, seniors facilities, medical providers and special events as well as connect with Niagara College and the regional inter-municipal transit service.
In addition to the provincial grant, other sources of revenue would be fares, sponsorships and provincial gas tax funds.
The program would run from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2017.
The most the town could receive is $100,000 and its application is in competition with communities throughout the province. It may not get a grant.
