BARRIE, Ontario — Student Transportation Inc.’s (STI) subsidiary, Leuschen Transportation, has been awarded a new six-year contract with the city of Greater Sudbury through 2018 to provide transportation for riders who have physical disabilities.

Leuschen Transportation has been the supplier of these services since the Handi-Transit program began in 1985. Officials said the company performs over 100,000 trips per year, generating revenue of $2.6 million annually with price adjustments keyed to the consumer price index for transportation. The new contract was recently tendered for bid and successfully awarded as part of the procurement process.

"We are pleased to be awarded this new contract for six additional years," STI CEO Denis Gallagher said. "As the incumbents, we have a vested interest in the quality service provided to the citizens of Sudbury. The operations team we have does a tremendous job caring about each and every passenger."

Gallagher went on to say that the service is very similar to the care STI provides to thousands of students in transporting them to school in the Sudbury area, and that it is a great example of using the company's "core competencies of safe, reliable transportation service and leveraging it to a year-round business."

The Handi-Transit program provides year-round transportation for people who have physical disabilities and are unable to use the regular transit system. Bookings are based on an agency-designed system for work, school, medical and other transportation needs, such as social and leisure activities.

The service is funded by the city of Greater Sudbury, with affordable user fees and door-to-door operations.

Leuschen Transportation General Manager Jean-Marie Guillemette said that STI has invested in a new state-of-the-art dispatch system that will help the company interact with clients more efficiently.

The company is also providing 16 new vehicles that will provide a smoother ride, "which is very important to our clients," Guillemette added.