A well-developed public transportation system would be welcomed in the town, say local business owners and residents.
After news broke that council applied for a two-year community transportation pilot grant, many shared their opinions on the potential busing system.
The grant offered by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation is a $1 million program to provide money to plan and start local community transportation projects.
A community, if its application is accepted, could get up to $100,000 toward a program.
“I personally think that this is something essential to our small community. Especially when it comes to connecting to nearby cities such as Welland and St. Catharines,” resident Robert Bandura said.
Bandura said it would not only be an economic boost, but also a great way to bring young people into town. He would enjoy hosting students from Niagara College and a bus route through Pelham would make it easier for those students without cars.
“I find it quite ridiculous that residents of St. Catharines, Port Colborne and even Niagara Falls can access bus routes to Niagara College,” Bandura said, who is unable to drive students with his work schedule.
“Residents of Pelham, just a 10 minute drive, do not have that option.”
Brigitte Boucher, owner of Isis Body Sugaring & Esthetics, deals with students in her business.
She says most of the students who move into Niagara do not have cars, because many of them live in cities with busing routes.
Boucher says many of her other clients in Pelham don’t have cars. A bus service would create an easier situation to accommodated customers.
Heather Reid, owner of Fenwick Hardware, echoed Boucher comments on customers, saying that extra “drive-by” traffic is always good for business.
“This is a great opportunity to show of our town to people who may never have gone through Pelham.”
Joseph Marchant says to make transit work, the plan will have to focus on two areas – connecting insiders and outsiders.
“Firstly, connecting people within the community between the important destinations, by linking places such as the area around Lookout Ridge retirement home, the Sobeys plaza, E.L. Crossley and and other high volume areas to one another.”
Marchant says they should also consider the students and the possibility of the GO train expansion into Niagara.
“If the Town’s transit start up includes an early morning link to the GO bus in St. Catharines, I’d be one of the first passengers.”
A few years ago, a Welland Transit bus route, from Niagara College’s Welland campus to Brock University and back, was looped through Fonthill.
The one-year pilot project failed to generate enough users and revenue. The current application is linked with Pelham Cares, which provides car rides to medical appointments driven volunteers.
