Meeting on April 25 targets public transit needs

San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) invites the public to comment on where and how specialized public transportation can fill the gaps — especially for seniors, low-income, and disabled individuals — in the existing transit system at a meeting on Wednesday, April 25, in Ramona.

The Ramona meeting, one of several in the region, will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane.

SANDAG will hold the public meetings to discuss updates to the region’s Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan. The regional agency is asking the public to help identify transit needs from the passenger perspective. Comments from the Ramona meeting and other meetings in the region will become part of the Short Range Transit Plan, a framework for transit system development over the next five years.

Each year, from $3.6 million to $5 million in grant funds are available for specialized transportation to fill the gaps in the overall transportation system. The Ramona meeting will give an overview of the coordinated plan and the funding opportunities associated with it. Current census data will also be shared to determine locations of populations with transportation needs.

Other meetings scheduled are:

•April 23—North County Transit District, 810 Mission Ave., Oceanside, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

•April 24—Mountain Empire Community Center, 976 Sheridan Road, Campo, 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave., El Cajon, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

•April 25—Valley Center Community Hall, 28246 Lilac Road, Valley Center, 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Ramona Senior/Community Center, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

•April 26—Caltrans, 4050 Taylor St., San Diego, 12:30 to 2 p.m.; Chula Vista City Hall, 276 Fourth Ave., Chula Vista, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The coordinated plan and more information is at www.sandag.org/coordinatedplan.