Councillors in Prince Edward County are hoping a new ride sharing pilot program will help address transportation needs in the municipality.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday afternoon, councillors approved the one year pilot project to allow URide to provide transportation within the County.
Director of Community Services, Programs and Initiatives Emily Cowan says hopefully it is a one off pilot project.
“And it will help us to understand who does use this ride share program. Is it all visitors? Is it residents and visitors? Is it making life easier for locals to get a ride home from a restaurant as well as visitors going to accommodations, to wineries et cetera? This is an opportunity to, with money not coming from the tax base, to get the answers to those questions.”
Council will be using up to $50,000 in tourism related grant funds to support this project and collect the data.
Staff had also had suggested increasing taxi fares by $5 to help offset the increasing cost of operations for taxi companies, but that didn’t sit well with many around the horseshoe.
Councillor John Hirsch then suggested an immediate 10% increase to taxi fares to recognize the increased operational costs but also to allow staff to explore options to support those companies.
CAO Marcia Wallace said the staff report could be back in front of council by the end of June or early July.
