Former SCAT has a big year

Receiving a $3.5 million grant for an EV pilot project, expanding into Huron County and changing its name to North Central Area Transit were the highlights of an eventful 2023 and early 2024 for the former SCAT transportation agency. Last June, the former Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation put two new buses into use after a two-year wait for them to be delivered. The nonprofit organization also learned in June it had been selected by the Ohio Department of Transportation as a rural transit system to test the use of electric buses. Soon thereafter, the agency received a $3.5 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration to buy 10 electric buses and multiple charging stations. ODOT paid the 20% match needed to get the grant. The project includes buses, charging stations and other infrastructure needed to run electric buses. In December 2023, the agency announced it was expanding into Huron County, which increased its coverage area by one-third. As part of the agreement, it changed its longtime SCAT moniker to the broader NCAT. This was the second major expansion in recent years. In 2017, the agency approximately doubled its service area when it added Crawford County. At the time the short name remained SCAT, but the official name was changed to Seneca-Crawford Area Transportation. The headquarters remain at 3446 S. TR 151, Tiffin. As a nonprofit, NCAT's mission is to provide public transportation throughout Crawford, Huron and Seneca counties and serve the public by providing a safe, reliable, affordable, accessible and efficient transportation system. During the past three years, NCAT has provided nearly 261,000 trips, and NCAT vehicles have traveled more than 1.4 million miles, according to its website. Drivers have logged nearly 94,000 hours of drive time in the agency's 50 vehicles. NCAT provides planned transportation as well as public bus service. Planned transportation offers curb-to-curb service with driver assistance, if necessary. Passengers using wheelchairs or scooters will be secured with a four-point tie-down and use seatbelts provided for the securement system. Drivers are professionally trained to assist riders on and off the bus using wheelchair lifts. For a reasonable modification requests, call 419-617-7191 (Crawford), 419-663-2323 (Huron) or 419-448-7344 (Seneca). Passengers with disabilities are permitted to have service animals accompany them and must notify the office if there is a service animal. Passengers also are required to notify the office if they will be using an oxygen tank. In Seneca County, NCAT's Shelton Shuttle, a public bus service, operates blue and red routes that follow a regular schedule. Fares are $2 within the city limits, $3 within a 3-mile radius and $4 within a 7-mile radius. All other trips within Seneca, Crawford and Huron counties are $5. Trips to adjacent counties are $25 round-trip. NCAT offers half fare (within the county) for the elderly and people who qualify for its disabled program. Call the office for details about passes and other funds that might be available. For route information on route details, visit https://senecascat.org and click on Shelton Shuttle at the top of the home page. For general information, call 567-938-8055. Funding for NCAT is provided by Federal Transit Administration, ODOT, Seneca County Commissioners, Tiffin-Seneca United Way, United Way of Fostoria, Allen Eiry Funds and Tiffin Eagles. Donations are welcome.