WINSLOW — The Town Council proposed partnering with the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program to offer on-call transport services amid complaints about a lack of public transit.

Councilor Fran Hudson put forward the proposal at Monday night’s council meeting, saying that more needs to be done for Winslow’s older residents who don’t have transportation of their own.

“If an elderly person needs a ride, they can call and get picked up right at their own home and they would only be charged a small fee,” she said. “The senior citizens of this town without vehicles get nothing and they have been paying taxes longer than anybody else here.”

KVCAP is a nonprofit organization that offers prearranged transit services in and between Augusta, Waterville, Fairfield and Skowhegan. Hudson’s proposal would extend those services into Winslow for the first time in years.

Discussions with KVCAP are still in the beginning stages. But Town Manager Ella Bowman said at Monday’s meeting that “it sounds like the program is viable” and that the program could get off the ground before the end of the year.

“We’re going to discuss possibly adding money in the budget this year so that we can get this program in Winslow,” she said. “It’s going to cost the town some money to buy into the program. I don’t think it’s a lot, maybe between $5,000 and $10,000.”

The company previously offered bus service in Winslow, but the town ended the partnership about five years ago because of low ridership. Hudson said the past program failed because it didn’t meet residents where they are.

“The town had transportation from KVCAP but you had to go to the Winslow library if you wanted to ride,” she said. “How can you expect people who need a ride somewhere to find a ride to get a ride?”

KVCAP offers discounted rates for seniors, veterans and children, which Bowman said would continue if the company returns to Winslow. Councilor Lee Trahan proposed subsidizing ticket costs in order to increase potential ridership.

“I don’t see why the town can’t absorb that fare even if it’s a reimbursement from the residents,” he said. “I don’t see it being $5,000 worth of fares in one year.”

The council ultimately took no action on the proposal, as Bowman recommended waiting until the town’s budgeting process is complete before setting funds aside for the program.

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