Gap in holiday transit service is unacceptable, says KASAAC chairman

To the Editor:

I am the acting chairman of the Kincardine Area Seniors Advisory Action Committee (KASAAC). We are a group of like-minded locals who are working together to improve the quality of life for all of our residents, not only seniors.

Recently, we conducted a transportation needs assessment survey. The survey results suggested that a full-service transit system was not necessary at this time. However, the survey results also suggested that there are residents who are woefully under-serviced in meeting their transportation requirements. These people are often our most vulnerable, with physical and mental challenges and those with a modest income.

Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transportation (SMART) was implemented to address some of these transportation service gaps. SMART is owned and 100-per-cent funded by the nine member communities, including Kincardine and Huron-Kinloss. The SMART board of directors is composed of mayors and councillors of those nine member communities.

Over the past few years, the SMART board of directors has imposed budget cuts which resulted in reduced services, including no statutory holiday service. The 2021 Christmas holiday schedule has no service (aside from dialysis) from Noon Dec. 24, to Dec. 28, and Noon Dec. 31 to Jan. 4. Because the statutory holidays fall on the weekends, the following Monday and Tuesday are granted as holidays.

This gap in holiday service hours is not acceptable. Those dependent on SMART may not be able to visit family and friends, attend faith-based services or even shop. These are not special needs, these are basic needs that we all want to enjoy.

I am calling on you to contact our local SMART representatives, Kincardine councillor Dave Cuyler and Huron-Kinloss councillor Ed McGugan, as well as Kincardine mayor Gerry Glover and Huron-Kinloss mayor Mitch Twolan, to correct this error and demonstrate that SMART exists as a service to those in need, and a service we can be proud to support with our tax dollars.

Regards,
Randy Hughes
Kincardine Area Seniors Advisory Action Committee
KASAAC