(Photo: File)
The City of Quinte West is looking to get some provincial cash to help improve the Quinte Access transit system and expand its services.
The city has a plan with a price tag around $1.2 million that would look at a feasibility study on future routes, including a new fixed route between Quinte West and Belleville and an on-demand route between Trenton, Fankford and Batawa, as well as the purchase of new bus shelters and the hiring of two new staff members.
Mayor Jim Harrison told reporters it’s important to residents to make improvements to routes and schedules.
Harrison added they could look to partner with the city of Belleville when it comes to planning an inter-city route.
If approved, the city could receive up to $500,000 from the Community Transportation Grant Program for local community transportation projects and up to $1.5 million for long-distance scheduled inter-community busing projects.
The cost breakdown for the city’s proposal includes:
- $80,000 for a route feasibility study
- $42,000 for new bus shelters
- $318,411 to hire a scheduler/dispatcher and administrative assistant
- $745,297 for operations
- $28,500 for marketing
- Total: $1,214,208
