Paratransit user, Dennis Demerais. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Public transportation

More money requested for special needs transit

Nov 5, 2019 | 12:55 PM

Just over 3,000 requests for paratransit in Prince Albert went unfilled in 2018.

In response, the organization that provides bus service for people with disabilities is asking the city for increased funding to eliminate waitlisted and refused trips.

P.A. Community Service Centre CEO, Bill Powalinski, told councillors $75,425 is needed to fix the gap.

“Our waiting lists and turn-aways mean that people are not able to attend day programs, or they can’t have reliable transportation to work, or be able to participate economically and socially,” Powalinski said during a public budget consultation on Monday night.

In 2019, the city gave the P.A. Community Service Centre $710,750 to provide subsidized transportation for seniors and people with disabilities.

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Data from the previous year indicated paratransit buses (separate from seniors’ transit) provided 30,536 trips in 2018.

“Paratransit services are a lifeline to the community,” Powalinksi said. “[It] can make the difference in access to work or education [and] also have major consequences for people who need to get to healthcare or other important appointments.”

According to Powalinski, just to maintain current levels of service, an additional $37,409 is needed in 2020. The increase is due to rising wages and fuel costs. He said without the extra money they will be forced to eliminate evening service. Extended hours were implemented in 2017 thanks to increased funding from council.

“I’m sure that’s nothing anyone of us want to see happen,” Powalinski told council.

Budget asks from other agencies

Councillors will weigh the Community Service Centre’s ask along with those of other community agencies at Monday night’s consultation meeting.

The Prince Albert Historical Society submitted a proposal to hire a new part-time staff member for $21,500, while the Tourism and Marketing Bureau wants a one-time $13,750 investment to create a new website. The Seniors Advocacy Centre, who has not been the recipient of city money in the past, is asking for $25,000 to assist them with their operations. The Prince Albert Mobile Crisis requested an additional $40,000 from the 2020 budget for a program addressing interpersonal violence.

In 2019 city council allocated $1,385,840 for funding to external agencies.

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Alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom