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Ridership, Costs Stabilizing Under New Paratransit System

Wednesday, 31 July 2013 11:10

Some are riding less, and some have stopped riding altogether. That's been the effect of changes to Woodstock's Paratransit program so far this year. The city took the service over from local cab companies in December after years of increasing ridership. Expenses also rose, with the city taking on dispatch, and contracting Voyageur for overflow service. But both ridership and expenses are starting to stabilize for the city at the half-way point of the year. Mayor Pat Sobeski says ridership is now creeping up to 60% of last year's levels, which is what the city was looking for. "All in all, it's coming out as the consultant said. People are becoming more comfortable with it, and using it. But as we get older, there's going to be a growing number (of users) and so that was all part of the long term thing, was to make sure we have financial stability." In fact, the city likely won't have to tap into the $100,000 in gas tax money that was set aside for Paratransit costs this year. "Ridership is down, revenues are down, but the corresponding expenses are down because we don't have to use the Voyageur buses to pick it up. So right now, we're tracking on-line for the budget as a whole." Sobeski says the new system has helped crack down on "chronic" use of the system. Those riders are now riding less, and some not at all. Heart FM also spoke with Margaret Ainsworth, who raised issue with the city's new service, back in January. The complaints prompted a response from the city. She says she's stopped using Paratransit, and has continued using local cabs instead. She says she's paying more for the cab fare, and going out less as a result.

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