The Following is a Press Release from the Freeholder Office:
Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger, Freeholder Deputy Director Frank J. DiMarco and Freeholder Jim Jefferson presented the keys to a new passenger bus to Deptford Township Mayor Paul Medany.
The bus, a fifty percent dollar match with the municipality, is funded through the County’s Capital Transit Investment Plan. The county and municipality will split the cost of the buses and the county will fund up to $50,000 for each bus.
The Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders instituted the CTIP in 1992 to assist municipalities with the purchase of new buses. CTIP provides county funds to municipalities for the purpose of providing transportation to senior citizens, persons with disabilities as well as the general public.
Freeholder Director Robert Damminger said, “These buses provide our residents with valuable transportation to doctor’s appointments, shopping and allows them to remain active members of our community.”
Freeholder Deputy Director Frank J. DiMarco said, “by partnering with our towns to provide this transportation service, we are allowing more residents to live independently. Many seniors do not have the resources to get themselves to the store or to the library, but these buses and transportation programs provide them with the opportunity to stay engaged members of the community.”
Freeholder Jim Jefferson, Liaison to Transportation Services, said that the 2019 Ford Champion Defender is a 22-person vehicle with two wheelchair slots. The total price of the vehicle was $81,382 with the county paying $40,443 and contributed $40,939 because they requested an additional back up camera on the bus.
Jefferson said, “this partnership with Deptford is a win for everyone. The schedule for the bus is busy, going to the library, the mall, supermarkets and other stores and locations. Residents can use this bus, which saves them money, helps reduce the impact on our environment and keeps people living independently longer.”
