Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
White Hat -- The “facts”
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91.5 % of PEC residents use their own means of transportation
51% workers go out of PEC
1.3% of workers use public transport
most services in are concentrated in Picton, Bloomfield & Wellington
2/3 population lives outside of Picton, Bloomfield & Wellington
Deseronto Transit (1 bus sometimes a van)connects Picton and Bloomfield to Belleville
PEC Specialized Transit (1 bus & 1 van)- seniors & people with disabilities
PEC Community Care for Seniors operates a volunteer driving program to medical appointments
& shopping for seniors 60+
Deseronto Transit needs permission of PEC council to pick up/drop off within PEC
Deseronto Transit (DT) could serve Bloomfield with no $, need $ to also serve Wellington
DT has accessible vehicles
PEC Community Care needs more volunteer drivers (30 drivers now and more needed as
currently serving dialysis clients who need many rides)
DT – requests for night travel
DT -- $5500 fares collected in PEC
PEC Community Care does dialysis rides, PEC Specialized Transit does not
few options for non-seniors living outside Picton, Bloomfield & Wellington
Community Living Prince Edward (CLPE) has transport for 55 of their clients (a fleet of vehicles
12 vans of which 2 accessible ), no funding for cost replacement of vehicles
PEC Specialized Transit (PEC ST) – 4 days/week in daytime only
There are some special Education Buses from board of education – tri board transportation
there are 3 taxi companies operating in PEC
DT goes to Loyalist College
Quinte Access does after hours & weekends in PEC and this is not funded by PEC ST, but instead
is funded directly through United Way funding & fundraising (3700 trips last year)
QA gets lots of email addresses for seniors in PEC
Page 1 of 6
Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
Red Hat - Feelings & Assumptions
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Page 2 of 6
There is potential, there can be answers
surprised at # vehicles on the road, even those specialized vehicles (wheelchair tie downs)
advocacy needed for what cabs & DT can/can’t do
flak from cab companies but there’s room for all, this is shown in other communities
cost for cabs is high, low income can’t afford anyway (also waiting fees)
few options for young families with low income
lack of awareness for people in need
misconceptions about who does what, who is eligible for what
websites-awareness
focus is on appointments, need to look at employment, college
“horrible shame” that kids get accepted but then can’t get to college (ride is the issue)
QA has live people answer the phone
assuming the fundraising will continue
more knowledge required
insurance issues are not a concern for Community Care’s volunteer drivers as that is looked
after
operating a volunteer driver service should not, however, be done “off the side of a desk”
because there are processes/procedures that need to be in place
Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
Green Hat -- Ideas/Possibilities
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letters of support for DT, inter/town pick up/drop offs
collaborative solutions with current providers (8 dots)
formal inventory of what’s available
vehicle for outlying areas & drop off at central area
identifying customers/clients
until they need it people don’t know
share funding? – Rotary, United Way
engage elected officials
make it an election issue – municipal election; provincial election
transportation is a municipal responsibility (4 dots)
amend taxi regulations i.e. proper car seats for kids, driver training
bring cab companies to the table (taxi chits)
regular rural rides for after-school programming
identify the needs
Tri-board transportation (school buses)  solutions?
get creative with the funding
PEC Specialized Transit – 5th day is needed/wanted but money is the issue
Prince Edward County Women’s Institute (WI) – wanting to fundraise for the 5th day - $50, 000
PEC Specialized Transit – change eligibility (seniors at 55?) – run a “conventional” route i.e.
outside the current criteria, and would pick up anybody
look at funder requirements
using gas tax $ for people not in a special needs group, QLPE, too i.e. a “conventional” route
fill the empty seats
one consolidated transportation booking vehicle/system (7 dots)
Deseronto Transit - set route & schedule
PEC Specialized Transit - door to door
Community Care - door to door; individual
late night runs for employment
promote carpooling, parking lots, ways to link drivers/riders
doctors/hospitals/clinics to have coordinated appointment times
leverage WI fundraising & support the fundraising they do
industry approach
walking paths to receive attention (Library steps are closed in winter)
late night & restaurants
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Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
Yellow Hat -- Optimism
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QA (PEC Transit) to run a “conventional route”
PEC Transit and DT regular routes to tie in together in terms of scheduling
partnerships among and between providers
work together on dialysis rides
Community Care to provide volunteer escort to PEC Transit riders who need one
collaboration – services – funding
leverage political support in this election year
leverage the need in the county – people in need must speak out themselves, service
providers can give people a voice
Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
Black Hat – Challenges and Barriers
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money – fundraising – funding
funder restrictions
competition for fundraising $
community awareness
o what’s available
o impact on citizens – barriers to employment, education & life
blind acceptance for municipalities to pass provision of transportation to community providers
restriction on gas tax funding & how that affects service – loss of flexibility need to make this
an election issue
competition & an unwillingness to collaborate
taxi owner attitude – work with them
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Vital Signs - Getting Around Group
January 21, 2014
Getting Around Sign-up Sheet
Susan Stolarchuk
Susan Treverton-Bird
Shelley Ackers
Nadyne Mattis
Joan Williams/Nancy Wood
Brandi Hodge
Donna Harrison
Darlene Thompson
Aaron Boulton
Stephanie MacLaren
*Debbie MacDonald Moynes
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