Advertisement 1

United Way Oxford supports T:GO program

Article content

The Tillsonburg Transportation Steering Committee recently announced a $28,000 commitment from the United Way Oxford in support of the T:GO CALL-N-RIDE program.

This funding comes through United Way Oxford’s Community Investment Fund that has helped many programs across Oxford County.

T:GO CALL-N-RIDE provides rides to Tillsonburg residents for $2 a ride in-town. To date, the white T:GO bus has performed over 8,300 rides since March 2016 - supporting adults, youth, and seniors get to jobs, appointments, local businesses, community programs and more.

Kelly Gilson, Executive Director of United Way Oxford says that “when a community rallies around a great idea, as both the Town and the Ministry of Transportation have done in Tillsonburg, United Way is thrilled to be able to share in the county contributions by supporting that winning idea.”

T:GO (pronounced tee-go) is a collaborative effort by many local organizations in response to the need for affordable transportation. In March 2015, the Town of Tillsonburg and its community partners were awarded a $100,000 grant by the Ministry of Transportation through its Community Transportation Pilot Program.

John Verbakel, Chair of the Steering Committee overseeing the transportation program, says “T:GO appears to have filled a void in our Town, and comments from riders reinforce that observation.”

The steering committee will focus the United Way funding to support the current program for the 2017 operating year, and expand to meet needs in surrounding communities. Also being explored by the committee this year is the possibility of building T:GO’s paratransit service in-town through the partnership with Stonebridge Community Services, a local not-for-profit organization that has provided wheelchair transportation, and many other services, to Tillsonburg and area.

For more information on T:GO, routes and schedules, and other transportation programs in the area, go to www.ridetgo.ca, or call John Preston, Community Transportation Coordinator, at 519-842-9000, and ask for T:GO.

T:GO By the Numbers: (March 2016 - March 2017)

* Over 3,200 rides performed for employment purposes

* 1,165 rides to access local businesses

* 458 trips to medical services

What riders are saying:

“Wonderful to have a bus in town.”

“Drivers are very helpful to seniors and very courteous.”

“What a great and valuable service for people trying to get to work.”

“If our city is to attract outside seniors as well as service the present population, the need is there.” 

Article content
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
Article content
Article content
Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers