The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) in Scranton, PA, has assumed responsibility for providing shared-ride and paratransit services for older Americans and persons with disabilities. The county government previously provided these coordinated transportation services.

 

The transfer of services became official last month following approval by the Lackawanna County Commissioners. Pennsylvania DOT will pay the consolidation costs for the change, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2013.

 

Lackawanna County officials said they expect the fusion of services to improve operations, reduce costs, and eliminate redundancy. The current coordinated transportation system operates at a deficit, with the county government covering the difference between actual costs and funding received from the state and other sources. The subsidy costs county taxpayers about $950,000 annually.

 

The county will subsidize the coordinated transportation services with $1.1 million to COLTS over the next four years, after which time the subsidies will cease.