Try T:GO bus free on July 17
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If you haven't tried the T:GO Call N Ride program, Bethel Pentecostal Church is providing the perfect opportunity on Sunday, July 17th and Sunday, August 14th - free of charge.
"Bethel Pentecostal Church has agreed to cover the cost for the day of providing rides for all residents of Tillsonburg along our set routes," said John Verbakel, chair of the Tillsonburg Community Transportation Pilot Project Committee, speaking to Tillsonburg Council at its June 27th meeting.
"It's another initiative to see if we can make this work," said Verbakel.
From 8:30-4:30 on the 17th of July and 14th of August, you can ride T:GO to church, go shopping, meet up with friends and family, and more.
Verbakel began his presentation at the Council meeting with a question.
"How many people here around the table have seen the T:GO bus around town," Verbakel asked Council.
"Most of you," he nodded.
Referencing the Community Strategic Plan, Verbakel noted the section on "providing opportunities for families to thrive," and the town's need to explore the viability of alternative transportation, such as 'community transportation.'
"We're doing the bulk of that work in exploring that for you," Verbakel told Council. "And I hope you appreciate that. We're certainly keen on making this work."
In the longer term 3-4 year phase of the Strategic Plan, Verbakel noted that senior management "will implement a suitable transportation program and support it through marketing in town."
When the current T:GO program, made possible by a $100,000 government grant, concludes in March, Verbakel said he hopes they will have demonstrated it is a viable program and worth supporting.
"The tagline that I want to leave you with, that hopefully you can talk to other people in town about, 'for $2 you can get a ride anywhere in Tillsonburg' one way. So for $4 you can get a round-trip bus ride anywhere in Tillsonburg. So for those of you here who haven't heard that before, who don't know that, that's what this bus does, it provides inexpensive transportation to any citizen of the Town of Tillsonburg who needs a ride somewhere."
Information on how to access the bus is found on their website at ridetogo.ca.
"Right now, you need to call, and you need at least an hour in advance to arrange for pickp-up. But we're hoping we can get to the stage where it's as immediate as flagging down a bus, and getting that ride for $2 anywhere in Tillsonburg. That's what we're working on."
The T:GO bus currently operates Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 842-9000 and ask for T:GO for more information. (Extension 399 to book a ride).
"The program started on the 14th of March, and it actually officially opened in April. It's provided 616 rides so far," said Verbakel.
"T:GO ridership is remaining steady, and a lot of people use it to get to work, to go shopping and for medical appointments," he added, noting the latter two are starting to increase. "We're guessing at this stage, but looking at the data that's probably because more people are becoming aware that the service exists."
Slow in the summer, Verbakel said he expects ridership to increase in the winter months.
"We've done a number of things as far as program outreach is concerned. We've reached out to various groups and organizations to promote the T:GO Call and Ride," he said, including Hickory Hills Residence Association, Tillsonburg Senior Centre, Tillsonburg Resource Network, Special Olymics, Community Advocates Tillsonburg, TDMH, Children's Services, Harvest Retirement Community and more.
"We're really trying to spread the net in order to make people aware of it."