Newport
The buses run between Claremont, Charlestown and Newport, providing low-cost transportation to the grocery store, doctor appointments and other places for many elderly and disabled residents who have no other means of travel.
State Rep. John Cloutier, D-Claremont, said he called the meeting when he learned New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Victoria Sheehan was coming to Claremont to meet with the president of the Sullivan County ATV Club.
Cloutier said the delegation is “very concerned” with the pending loss of public transportation and wants to hear from Sheehan about what the prospects are for another entity providing the service.
“We don’t know if anything will come out of it. It is still up in the air, but we wanted an update and to get answers,” Cloutier said.
It is his understanding that discussions are taking place with other providers of area public transportation, but those discussions are confidential.
Valerie Bailey, interim director of the Community Alliance of Human Services, which is ceasing all operations on Sept. 9, said she will attend Thursday’s meeting.
Another service, which already has the administration’s approval, might be able to take over the Sullivan County routes because it would only incur the additional transportation costs, she said.
Thursday’s meeting, which is open to the public, is at 1 p.m. in the county building on Main Street in Newport.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com
