Grant sought as separate senior pilot develops

VERMILION — Another transportation option could be on the horizon for Vermilion residents, this time through Lorain County Transit.

Lorain County officials said during an Aug. 11 county commissioners meeting that the transit system has applied for an Ohio Department of Transportation grant to provide public transportation services in Vermilion.

The potential service is not yet guaranteed because the grant application remains pending, but officials expressed optimism about the effort.

The discussion came as commissioners approved a separate six-month agreement allowing Lorain County Transit to provide transportation for the Erie County Board of Developmental Disabilities through Dec. 31.

Under that agreement, Erie County DD will pay Lorain County Transit $30 per trip. County officials said the service will use Lorain County Transit’s regular fleet.

Money received through the arrangement can also be used as local matching funds for state or federal transportation grants, according to the discussion.

Officials said Lorain County Transit has been asked to step in after transit service previously available to Vermilion was withdrawn.

The development comes as another effort is taking shape to address transportation needs on the Erie County side of the Vermilion area.

As Vermilion Daily previously reported, Serving Our Seniors is working on a separate transportation pilot involving Neighborhood Alliance for eligible older Erie County residents in the Vermilion area.

The two efforts are separate. Nothing discussed during the Aug. 11 commissioners meeting indicated Neighborhood Alliance would operate the proposed Lorain County Transit service.

If the ODOT grant is awarded, however, the Lorain County effort could add another transportation option in a community divided between Erie and Lorain counties.

Details such as when the proposed Vermilion service could begin, who would be eligible to use it, fares and where riders could travel were not discussed during the meeting.

County officials said they have developed a good working relationship with neighboring Erie and Huron counties and pointed specifically to Vermilion’s unusual position along the county line.

Commissioners unanimously approved the Erie County DD transportation agreement.

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