The city is looking at ways to improve transit service both in and out of Elliot Lake. Improved transit service would also mean a shuttle service from the city to connect residents taking advantage of improved routes through the north by Ontario Northland. Northland recently started bus service along Highway 17 from Espanola to Sault St. Marie and Wawa with a stop in Spragge for Elliot Lake residents using it.
Economic development coordinator Ashten Vlahovich, in a report to council presented at its committee of the whole meeting Monday night, said there could be money available from the province to help pay for Sunday transit service in the community and provide transportation between the city and expanded Ontario Northland service on Highway 17. Ontario Northland’s new northern service has a stop in Spragge, but with no shuttle service from the city, some residents might find it difficult to make use of the improved service.
“The Community Transportation Grant Program is set up through the Ministry of Transportation to fund the development of community transportation solutions to address local transportation needs, including ways to better utilize existing transportation resources,” Vlahovich said in her report. “The program continues to focus on developing service and improving service to Ontario communities that are not served by public transportation or are underserved. At the same time, this program is being expanded to meet new challenges such as more intercommunity service and more connected service. This grant looks at funding both out of town and local transportation projects at the same time.”
“Ontario Northland has expanded its bus service westward to include Espanola, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, White River and many communities in between. The new routes will make life easier for Northerners by connecting their passengers to hospitals and college and university campuses,” her report noted. “Currently Ontario Northland drops off and picks up in Spragge but there is no shuttle service from Elliot Lake to meet the eastbound or westbound bus. Therefore the City could apply for funding for an out of town transportation project that would look at providing a shuttle service to meet the Ontario Northland buses in Spragge while also subsidizing the existing Greyhound shuttle service.”
“Furthermore, Sunday bus service has been identified by the community as a top priority when it comes to City transit service through the Age Friendly Elliot Lake survey and the Transit Optimization survey. The City could apply for funding for a local transportation project that would look at providing Sunday bus service in Elliot Lake,” she said about the grant potential.”
Vlahovich is expected to bring more information to council’s next committee of the whole meeting.