THUNDER BAY -- The city will take a look at options for people with accessibility needs looking to travel outside of city limits for events.
Pinewood Court resident John Jordan said before the city took over specialized transit from HAGI, the service would take people with mobility issues to places like the Murillo Fall Fair or Kakabeka Falls. Since the city's Lift+ service started, they've been told trips are only allowed in city limits.
"We should not be closed off from those visits. We look forward to them," Jordan told council Monday night.
HAGI's service was only for city limits as well but made exceptions. City transit manager Brad Loroff said the biggest reason Lift+ can't travel outside of the city limits is the strain it would put on other people looking for trips within the city limits, a vast majority of the calls. A trip to Kakabeka Falls for example could take a vehicle out of service for up to four hours.
"That could at times be 10 to 15 per cent of our capacity. That's the challenge,” he said.
The service has around 600 calls a year as it is that can't be answered. Lift+ exists for transit users that can't be accommodated by regular bus.
"What they’re really describing is a subsidized taxi service,” Loroff said.
Council passed the information along to its Age Friendly Committee for discussion.
