Cross-county rides address local service gap
VERMILION TWP — A 90-day pilot program is expected to restore transportation options for older Erie County residents following the withdrawal of Sandusky Transit service from the Vermilion area.
Sue Daugherty of Serving Our Seniors announced the planned program Wednesday during a Vermilion Township trustees meeting.
Daugherty said Serving Our Seniors intends to fund a contract with Neighborhood Alliance to provide the transportation. The organization received the proposed contract on the day of the meeting and was still reviewing it.
Eligibility will be based on where a rider lives, rather than the location of the rider’s destination.
Serving Our Seniors assists Erie County residents age 60 and older. The pilot will therefore serve eligible residents of Vermilion Township and the Erie County portion of the city of Vermilion.
Neighborhood Alliance is based in Lorain County and currently provides transportation there. Under the pilot, eligible Erie County residents in the Vermilion area will be able to receive rides locally and into Lorain County.
The cross-county arrangement will allow riders to reach grocery stores, health care appointments and other necessary destinations that may be located on either side of the county line.
Daugherty encouraged residents who need transportation to contact Serving Our Seniors for information about participating.
The initial 90-day period will allow the organizations to test the service following Sandusky Transit’s withdrawal from Vermilion and Vermilion Township.
An exact starting date had not been established at the time of the meeting. Daugherty said the launch will depend on completing the agreement and determining when Neighborhood Alliance is prepared to begin providing rides.
“I would guess that they would be ready to implement within two weeks,” Daugherty said.