Paratransit on demand is making life easier for many in Timmins now.
The program launched on Feb. 12, and during the Feb. 22 municipal accessibility advisory committee (MAAC) meeting, the city of Timmins' transit operations manager Marcel Côté reported on how the first week and a half had gone.
“We’re working out any kinks, as when anything launches, there’s always hiccups here and there,” said Côté.
People haven’t been picking up the app as quickly as Côté said they’d hoped. With seven per cent of requests coming through the app, most users are still calling through dispatch at Timmins Transit to book their trips.
The app is available in app stores under TT on demand.
There are currently 408 people registered to use paratransit through Timmins Transit.
Rides can be booked through the app or through dispatch from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
So far, there is an 87.9 per cent on-time performance rate through the on-demand service, but it is an adjustment.
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“If you’re requesting to get picked up at 8 o’clock, we’re allowing the system to pick you up anywhere from quarter to 8 to quarter after 8,” said Côté. “There are some users that have at-home care attendants that help them get prepared for their day, so if they’re used to having paratransit pick them up at 8:30, and we’re using this flexibility and show up at 8:15 a.m., but the home care attendant has not arrived yet, we’re kind of there for nothing because the passenger’s not ready to go.”
This issue also affects drop-off times for some services in the city, like the Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre (CTRC).
“The biggest issue we’re facing right now is for places like the CTRC where it doesn’t open until 8:30, the system still wants us to drop people off before 8:30, and that’s unacceptable,” said Côté.
MAAC member David Rivard said this is something he’s encountered as a user.
“The app is telling me that the bus is coming at 4:11 or something like that, so the bus would get here before my attendant does,” said Rivard.
A pamphlet lays out how the system works and the upsides of the app that will be handed out to passengers.
“It’s really exciting that we’ve launched this service,” said Côté. “It’s more flexibility and freedom for everyone who needs paratransit in town.”
There are three paratransit buses in use in Timmins. One of the buses is only used in the evenings when there is demand for it.
“I’m looking forward to the day when I can say we need a third full-time paratransit driver. That’ll be a good problem to have,” said Côté.
