Queens County is set to have public transit by this fall.
It’s not going to be a big venture though.
Ken Colthorpe, chair of the Queens County Transit Society, says the aim is to have something small that can service those who can’t afford a taxi or don’t have accessible tranportation.
But Colthorpe says it’s also important to reach vulnerable people.
“It depends on the needs of the community, the one thing we want to do is reach people who are shut-ins of any age group.”
Fares will be a $2.50 minimum and $10 maximum within the county and the van will service a variety of communities as well as seniors homes.
“The key to the whole thing is to make this thing affordable.”
The society is currently looking at a nine person van that can accomodate two wheelchairs.
They’ll need a paid driver but they’re also aiming to supplement the service with volunteer drivers, who would use the bus to take people to hospital appointments outside of the county.
It’ll be a call-in service, no bus stops, and it will service a variety of communities as well as seniors homes that don’t have their own bus.
Riders will have to give dispatch 24 hours notice.
The idea for public transportation was born from the Queens Care Society, a seniors advocacy group that surveyed the community to find out what amenities and services people wanted most.
That was around three years ago.
The society is in the process of seeking grants and getting non-profit status but Colthorpe says he’s confident they’ll have the service up and running in September.
They’ll run a pilot and adjust runs once they know where their areas of greatest need are.
