The possibility of being able to get around in the Northwoods a bit easier is moving forward.
Last week the Forest, Oneida and Vilas Counties Transit Commission elected officers. The three county boards agreed to form the commission with an eye toward making public transportation more available to rural residents.
Each county board sent two representatives and one citizen member of the panel. The group elected Vilas county supervisor Erv Teichmiller as chair. He says the county Departments on Aging each provided a limited amount of transportation for older adults. He says this process will be designed to provide service to all residents...
"....we'll begin the process of designing a system that will network through the three county area and try to help folks who clearly need transportation assistance to get to places where they need to go...."
Teichmiller says they first will work toward hiring a transit manager to coordinate the resources available in each county. Teichmiller says the goal is to not change or reduce the services already available to older adults, but to work toward a transit system that gives every county resident a chance for a ride. He says additional state money will be available to fund the effort.
The group will likely meet again in a few weeks to keep the process moving.
