(file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Access Transit funding granted

Para-transit service gets funding boost

Apr 22, 2024 | 8:33 PM

After some back and forth between the City of Prince Albert and the Community Service Club that operates the handi-bus service, council voted on Monday night to give the CSC an extra $53,000 to keep the service levels intact.

At the same time, council voted to accept a two-year agreement with the CSC that took three years to negotiate. The lack of an agreement is something city council has said was a problem for some time.

“Why did it take so long and what was the delay in obtaining this contract,” asked Coun. Blake Edwards.

Both sides were responsible for at least some of the delay, replied staff.

Edwards pointed out that had the agreement happened in a timelier manner, the issue would not have blown up on social media the way that it did.

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Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick pointed out that unlike information shared on social media, it was not the city’s decision to cut hours for para-transit.

“It was their decision and their board’s decision to cut para-transit, not us,” said Ogrodnick.

The CSC had announced a reduction of hours the service would be available but changed its mind before any actual change was made.

In January, CEO Bill Powalinsky told paNOW that they needed an extra $100,000 to keep the service running as it was.

City funding for paratransit ($694,000 annually) and senior transit ($70,000) has remained consistent for several years, without a contract in place. The city also pays for the purchase of new paratransit buses as needed and maintains them. Some of the funding comes from provincial grants.

However, in 2024, the CSC asked for an increase because of the cost of inflation. It maintained services in 2023 by using up reserve funds, but in 2024, that was no longer an option.

They needed an extra $53,000 to maintain the weekend and evening paratransit bus runs.

Council was unanimous in their vote to provide the $53,000 during their Monday meeting.

“In the end, we all want good transportation for seniors and vulnerable people and special needs people,” said Edwards.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com