Social Services Director Natalie Griffith and Easy Transit Director Jennifer Faircloth discussed the Easy Transit program, including its funding, at the July 15 Legislative Council meeting.

The program, which was put together by Newtown Social Services to fill gaps left by the HART Dial-A-Ride program, which had areas of Newtown outside its coverage area and was turning down rides from Newtown residents due to at-capacity vehicles, has two vans and a town car, as well as a number of part-time drivers. The annual cost for 2026-27 was projected at $155,079, with $6,515 in revenue, meaning a cost to the town of $149,564. This gives the program a net cost of $43.47 per ride.

A grant to help pay the costs came before the council in May, but councilmen wanted more information. The town is seeking a 53-10 grant to cover a projected $25,841 shortfall in fiscal year 2027. The program still has $56,661 in funding available, so, as noted by Councilman Chris Gardner, the program coordinators still have time to figure out how to get funding, whether it is through grants or changes to the program to increase revenue.

Section 53-10 is a federal grant program intended to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation services and expanding transportation mobility options. It is administered in the state of Connecticut by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Griffith told the council that the program currently has 80 unique riders and gave 370 rides last month. Rides typically go to places like the Senior Center, medical appointments, or other transit and social trips like grocery shopping. Faircloth noted the program was "getting more popular."

Griffith said the Easy Transit program was an essential community program allowing seniors to remain "healthy, mobile, and engaged."

"This helps our most vulnerable residents," said Griffith. "We've tried other services; none were practical to meet Newtown's unique needs."

She continued by saying, "Transportation is healthcare, transportation is independence, transportation allows adults to remain safely in their homes."

Griffith noted that a surprise positive outcome came from the fact that Social Services went to homes to sign up residents, as well as drivers routinely going to homes. This has allowed Social Services to identify several residents living in "unsafe circumstances" and intervene with additional services.

"The goal is to not just maintain the program, but to be financially responsible and meet the community needs," said Griffith.

Councilman Ben Ruben expressed concerns about filling in the budget with one-time money like grants, but was supportive of the overall program.

"I just want to make sure we don't need to keep coming back to address this," said Ruben.

The council voted unanimously to approve applying for and accepting a grant under Section 53-10. The town is hoping to hear back about that grant by December, and also anticipates the outcome of another grant award by October.

While Faircloth said the program may have strategies that could save it money, Councilman Jordana Bloom said that the program should continue to build and make itself "more robust."

"We don't want to cut while the program is still building," said Bloom. "It's worthy of investment. If we cut free rides to the Senior Center, that may make the Senior Center less robust too."

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.