Kincardine Council is considering their options for a vehicle that would be used to expand SMART transit service.
Council had previously supported a proposal for enhance services from Saugeen Mobility & Regional Transit. Since then, municipal staff has been working with Saugeen Mobility on a draft agreement.
Deputy Mayor Andrea Clarke had pulled the topic for further discussion, as staff had also mentioned the option to lease a vehicle rather than purchase.
“This came through to the consent agenda a couple weeks back and I pulled because I felt it was important to have a discussion. The resolution that was passed effectively would see the council purchasing a vehicle for the expanded service… and this takes a slightly different path. We had made the commitment for a year, and this looks at the option of leasing which wasn’t at the table at the time, and the information hadn’t been available to us,” she explained to her council colleagues.
Clarke is also a member of the municipality’s Accessibility Committee. She said that while other members were happy to see the municipality work towards more accessible and inclusive transportation options, some questions were raised at the committee’s most recent meeting.
“With regards to the issue of leasing, I think that one of the questions that came up was the cost-effectiveness of it in terms of you don’t want to be in a situation where you’re effectively leasing and it would cost more over time and that was a valid point. Part of the reason that this has come is the thought process of what the numbers would be over the course of the year,” Clarke shared. “Part of the reason that this has come is the thought process of what the numbers would be over the course of the year. Whilst there’s a lot of merit in this, I suppose what I over time and some reflection had some questions about is what would be deemed as a successful trial period if the year runs and it’s based upon ridership.
The agreement would start with a one-year pilot project, which would include SMART hiring drivers for service from Monday-Thursday between 6pm and midnight, and Sunday from 9am-9pm. The company would also assign drivers, and ensure that a website was available with relevant information.
Once the one-year pilot was over and considered to be successful by both Saugeen Mobility and the Municipality of Kincardine, then the municipality would provide $150,000 to be used to purchase a new vehicle.
She said that financial cost is only one factor to consider for providing expanded transportation service, particularly for those who have issues with finding accessible means.
“A part of me understands the benefit of a lease, however there’s a large part of me that likes the idea of a full commitment when it comes to accessibility, and I appreciate that that may not be shared fully. For me it remains a little vague as to what would be deemed a successful trial period. And whilst we committed, even on the original motion, to only one year, the commitment seems different than the lease agreement as opposed to the ability to perhaps opt out of that. So there are two aspects that I look at. What makes [sense] financially, how does it look? and then the other is with accessibility, there is probably more that goes into it than just finances if we’re working towards making the municipality as accessible as possible.”
During the pilot, an existing 9-passenger van would be used.
Council directed staff to take time to report back with options for both purchase and leasing of a vehicle, but either move would not be chosen until after the one-year pilot was completed and deemed successful. They chose to defer a decision until after an upcoming meeting by Saugeen Mobility’s board of directors so they can also consider the potential options.
Council will re-examine the topic following their meeting on May 14th.
