ECAT Holding Public Workshops On North Escambia Community Transportation

January 19, 2019

Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will soon roll out an expanded local service in North Escambia on February 20.

The public is invited to attend two upcoming ECAT public workshops to provide community input regarding the North Escambia Transportation Service Pilot Project. ECAT and Escambia County Community Transportation staff will be on hand to answer questions.

Workshops will be held:

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 6 p.m.

  • Byrneville Community Center, 1701 Highway 4A,

Thursday, Jan 31, 5 p.m.

  • Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A

The North Escambia Transportation Service Pilot Project is a door-to-door on demand transportation project that is funded through a $50,000 Transportation Disadvantaged Mobility Enhancement Grant. The project will begin Wednesday, February 20 and will service Walnut Hill, Davisville and Bratt on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Century, Molino and McDavid on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

To qualify for the program, participants must live north of Quintette Road within Escambia County and complete a short application. All trips will require 24-hour advance reservation. The participant’s fare will be $1 for each trip.

Comments

6 Responses to “ECAT Holding Public Workshops On North Escambia Community Transportation”

  1. pencil on January 21st, 2019 3:05 am

    The funds from this come from a grant, its not coming out of local dollars . . . . its going to be a great tool for those in need of door to door service to get to jobs and medical appointments in a timely manner.

    Can’t get anything in the northern part of the county without someone always complaining . . . . how many of you internet politicians will attend any of these workshops or sit on the advisory boards when advertised again?

  2. John on January 20th, 2019 6:51 am

    This is nothing to do with the story but it is an issue I think needs resolved. The ecat pick up spot in Century is in desperate need of some lighting. I have never used it but I drive by it around 6am and people are standing out there in the dark. This has got to be a safety issue in our community.

  3. Freda on January 20th, 2019 1:29 am

    And still nothing for Beulah. Why is Beulah always left out of this? all these people coming out here and still no bus service.

  4. Math Man on January 19th, 2019 12:56 pm

    With you John….. ECAT is a failing business that can not support itself. It has to be supported by the tax payer. They will pay a driver $12.00 to $15.00 an hour to drive from Pensacola to the North end and pick up 4 or 5 people, for a dollar a ride. Figure in fuel cost and regular maintenance. ECAT is in the hole before they ever get started. Even if they filled the bus they will lose money. The math does not work. What happens when the grant money runs out? I see a rising gas tax in the future to support another failing project.

  5. Margielu on January 19th, 2019 9:41 am

    How is it north Eacambians pay the same taxes that fund ECAT yet STILL aren’t getting the same services as those south of I10? We are justified in having equal services along busy corridors (29, 95A, Chemstrand Rd, Muskogee Rd, 97A, 297, Roberts Rd, etc.) This advance-notice-requires plan is not ideal either as it allows absolutely no flexibility in using the service. I’m thankful for the service being offered, but folks need fair and equitable public transportation in north county as much as any other taxpaying resident.

  6. John on January 19th, 2019 9:29 am

    Watch and see……this project will further burden the tax-payer, just like the busses did with a $0.05 gas tax increase, and these vans have to travel to the end of the county with van expense and driver expense and they are only charging $1.00.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News