New Senior Citizen Bus Eyed By Southington Officials

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local officials are seeking federal funds that would allow the town to replace the bus used by the Calendar House Senior Center in Southington.

The Southington Town Council unanimously voted 8-0 Feb. 26 to seek a $112,000 federal Section 5310 Grant, with the remainder of the estimated $140,000 cost coming from the town's capital budget.

Such grants are doled out to qualifying municipalities to improve a community's transportation offerings for local seniors and the disabled.

Though the funding originates from the federal government, it is administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Southington Town Manager Mark Sciota said replacing the well-used bus is done regularly in town. "Every two years now, we get a new Calendar House bus," Sciota said.

He said the town's share of the cost has already been budgeted for the bus, with most of the dollar amount coming from grant funding.

The bus is critical to the senior center's "Dial-A-Ride" service, in which Southington seniors aged 55 and up or any disabled person 18 and over can get free rides to various appointments, including doctor's visits.

Other destinations served by the bus include to and from the senior center; common appointments such as bank visits, hair appointments and other personal business; and Southington offices such as the YMCA and Southington Community Services.

Council members quickly approved the measure to seek funding to get a new bus with no discussion.

For more information on the Southington Calendar House bus service, click on this link.

For more information on the Southington Calendar House Senior Center, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Feb. 26 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.