GREENSTONE — Getting around Greenstone just got a little bit easier.
At their regular council meeting on April 8, Greenstone’s municipal council unanimously passed a motion to enact the ‘Specialized Transportation Policy’ and move ahead with Greenstone’s new specialized transportation program.
The program is set to start on April 15 and run as a pilot project until April 2025.
Residents who are eligible to take advantage of the program can arrange rides to places such as the grocery store, pharmacy, and post office, in addition to in-town medical appointments.
Eligibility for the program is aimed at seniors (55 plus) and residents with permanent/chronic or temporary disabilities.
In-town rides are available Mondays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Longlac and on Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Geraldton.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are available for scheduling transportation to medical appointments out of town – for appointments that fall between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Service in-town is $2.50 one way within ward and $8.00 one way between Geraldton and Longlac.
Out of town medical trips (to Thunder Bay, for example) cost $350 for a round-trip – but the cost can be at least partially subsidized through the Northern Health Travel Grant program.
Riders can apply ahead of time for the Northern Health Travel Grant and must be travelling to a medical specialist or a procedure at a ministry-funded health-care facility as per the grant’s guidelines.
Although it covers a good portion of the cost, riders are still expected to pay the difference between eligible funding and the full travel fare.
Members of the public are also invited to Geraldton and Longlac on April 26 for a ‘meet and greet’ with municipal staff who are facilitating the specialized transportation program and to learn more about how the program works.
Coun. Matthew Donovan suggested that open houses in Greenstone’s other wards would be beneficial since the program’s scope extends beyond Geraldton and Longlac.
“We need to remember it’s not just the local transportation but the Thunder Bay transportation as well and we need to get into the other wards . . . that in-person, human touch always helps,” he said.
Mark Wright, chief administrative officer, thanked Coun. Donovan for his comments and noted Geraldton and Longlac are the two wards which see the most transportation use and need.
For more details or to arrange a ride, call Liette Cardinal, the community services administrative assistant, at 807-854-1100 ext. 2010 or by emailing liette.cardinal@greenstone.ca.
At least 48 hours notice is required when booking a trip with availability determined on a first come, first serve basis.
You can also find more information on Greenstone’s municipal website.
