New system frustrates Handi-Transit users

Some Handi-Transit users in Sudbury are not happy with a new software system put in place over the summer.

Handi-Transit passengers had a chance to offer feedback at a public meeting in the city Monday. The new system was supposed to improve service and reduce wait times, but some passengers said they aren't impressed.

"It makes it harder for people to live," said Andrea Gustafson, who became familiar with Sudbury's Handi-Transit Service about four years ago.

Her father had a stroke and uses the service regularly. Like many of the users at the public meeting, Gustafson said the service was better before the city made the changes.

"I found it really hard to follow ... I find it not user friendly at all," she said.

Gustafson said she now has to book two days in advance and can't book after 5:30 p.m.

That's made it difficult to arrange trips for her father.

The manager of transit operations with the city fielded complaints at the meeting. Robert Gauthier said the system can be tweaked, but it's a question of money.

"I think the word ‘resources’ came up quite a bit today during the meeting ... in short, more flexibility," he said.

"And to have more flexibility you have to have more vehicles."

Gauthier said more passengers are using Handi-Transit as the population ages and he plans to ask for more funding for the service in the next municipal budget.

"We're all getting older I guess ... [looking at the] population average," he said. "And as someone mentioned, the baby boomers aren't all there yet."