Changes to Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) are in development, as its Board of Directors has received requests from some member municipalities to investigate amalgamating various specialized transit services that currently exist in Bruce and Grey Counties.
Saugeen Shores Vice Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt is the chair of the SMART Board of Directors and says the board is “very interested in trying to lower the cost of operations.”
Myatt says “Combining multiple service providers and moving the service to the county level could lead to cost efficiencies and expanded service levels to those in need of this essential transportation program.”
Myatt states he and SMART manager Roger Cook will be addressing Bruce County Council and will ask if a task force can be set up made up of county and SMART officials to see if there's some way to make the service “more financially feasible.”
SMART board of directors wanted to make it clear that there are no plans to discontinue mobility transit service, as was suggested in an earlier Bayshore Broadcasting News report.
SMART is a specialized public transit operation serving primarily mentally and physically challenged residents in Bruce and Grey Counties.
Participating partners are Saugeen Shores; Kincardine; Huron Kinloss; Arran Elderslie; Brockton; Hanover; West Grey; Chatsworth and Southgate.