Accessibility committee chair calls for public transportation
By Chris Simon

There should be reliable public transportation within Innisfil, says the chair of the town's accessibility advisory committee.

Margaretta Papp-Belayneh, chair of the Innisfil Accessibility Advisory Committee, says there is a significant lack of reliable public transportation within the town, and throughout most of Simcoe County. And unfortunately, that's preventing many disabled residents from overcoming everyday obstacles, like grocery shopping and getting to work.

"The biggest problem is transportation; it's a problem throughout all of Simcoe County ... especially if you're wheelchair bound," she said. "Eighty-five per cent of people with disabilities are unemployed ... you can't get into Barrie, you can't even go see a doctor. For them to come into Barrie or go to the hospital, it's $56 one way. It's so costly for people on a fixed income."

Papp-Belayneh, who also serves on the county's accessibility advisory committee, says only Collingwood and the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia currently have public transportation systems. She'd like to see cube vans, or some other form of inexpensive transportation, in use throughout the town several times per week, to take residents closer to grocery stores and other businesses.

"You can use private taxis, but they're extremely expensive," she said. "Barrie has it's own transportation system, but it doesn't go out of their own territory. But there's nothing that (easily) joins Innisfil to Barrie or the other communities."

However, mayor Brian Jackson says a public transportation system is currently too expensive for the town.

Jackson estimates it would cost between $500,000 and $600,000 per year to operate an efficient system, in addition to the initial start-up funding, something that would likely raise the town's tax rate by over two to five per cent.

"It's very difficult to have a cost effective transportation system in a town our size," he said. "There's so many areas that are spatially separated that it would be very (expensive)."

"It is something the (provincial) Places to Grow Act has looked at, and it's something the county will look at, but it is very cost prohibitive to provide a bus transportation system in our municipality."

Jackson says the town is already being burdened with large tax increases over the next two years.

"Budgets can jump around from year to year," he said. "We're having a very difficult time maintaining and building roads, before we can even put a transportation system in. We have to prioritize."

Two privately run transportation systems have already failed in Innisfil over the last few years, with ownership blaming low ridership for their downfall, said Jackson.

"They have both failed because of a lack of ridership," he said. "It just wasn't cost effective enough for them to continue operating."

The advisory committee was established in 2002, following the passing of the Ontario Disabilities Act. The group runs the annual Paint the Town Yellow sidewalk painting day, issues surveys, takes complaints from disabled residents, and hands out accessibility compliance awards to local businesses. They also advise council on various accessibility-related issues within the town.

However, a public transportation system could also be used for teenagers and other non-disabled residents who have trouble getting around the municipality, said Papp-Belayneh.

"There are a lot of poor people in Innisfil," she said. "It can get them to the movies. We're having a wonderful rec centre (being built), but it isn't accessible, because how do you get up to it?"

Papp-Belayneh says there are several other accessibility related issues within the town, such as affordable housing and hand washing capabilities at local schools. There is currently no social housing within the town.

"The town needs affordable housing for people living at or below the poverty line," she said. "There's no affordable housing in Innisfil. (There have been) 181 facilities identified that provide housing for persons with disabilities (within the county), but there's nothing within Innisfil for low income housing."

Social housing is currently run by the county. But the town will support any future Innisfil-related housing initiatives brought forward to county council, said Jackson.

"The county is fully aware of that," he said. "The town supports these types of things when they do come forward."