In the municipality of Midden-Drenthe, a foundation is trying to make it easier and clearer to use local transport. There are currently several organizations that provide this.
This concerns transport for residents who fall outside existing regulations and cannot use their own transport or other forms of public transport. The ANWB, among others, offers this through the ‘automat’. Drivers then drive their own car and take someone with them. There is also a ‘plus bus’ of Welzijnwerk Midden-Drenthe, which transports the elderly and people with a disability to destinations in the region. The third is residential care center the Spectrum, which drives around with the ‘spectrum bus’.
Those three carriers all use their own systems, for example to register. The result is that it is unclear to the target group how to use local transport. As a result, less use is made of these facilities.
The Central Drenthe Neighborhood Transport Foundation wants to place these means of transport in a single foundation, with one system and central coordination. It will be tested over the next three years whether this works.
The province wants to give this foundation a subsidy of 173,500 euros. According to the provincial government, the plan contributes to improving the quality of life and accessibility of Central Drenthe.
In total, the project will cost 436,000 euros. In addition to the province, the foundation itself and the municipality of Midden-Drenthe are also helping, although both agencies are involved in less than 50,000 euros. The rest of the money has to come from sponsors and ride fees.