Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit, or SMART, will likely see some changes in the future.
The Board of Directors has received requests from some member municipalities to investigate the amalgamation of the various specialized transit services that currently exist in Bruce and Grey Counties.
Town of Saugeen Shores Vice-Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt currently serves as SMART Board Chair.
He says combining multiple service providers and moving the service to the county level could lead to cost efficiencies and expanded service levels. And SMART will approach Bruce and Grey County Councils to investigate what options may be possible.
Currently SMART has no plans to discontinue mobility transit services, as it provides the only door-to-door transit service for those with mobility issues in Grey and Bruce.
SMART Board of Directors met on February 21 to discuss recent media coverage pertaining to the future of SMART. Board members also approved the capital and operations budget for the 2020 year.
Highlights from the budget include improved plans for ongoing operations as well as vehicle replacement and some computer system upgrades.
“The main objective for SMART board members is to continue to offer an uninterrupted and high-quality door-to-door transportation service to all existing and prospective clients during this investigative action,” said Myatt.
SMART Manager Roger Cook and Myatt will make a presentation to Bruce County Council on Thursday, April 9 to discuss potential partnership opportunities.
SMART provides a specialized high-quality, client-focused door-to-door transit service to nine municipalities across Bruce and Grey Counties which includes; Saugeen Shores, Hanover, Brockton, West Grey, Arran-Elderslie, Chatsworth, Southgate, Kincardine and Huron-Kinloss.
Other municipalities and organizations throughout the two counties have some version of their own specialized transit, while others do not currently offer this type of service to their residents and clients.
