White Lake ups suggested fee for bus transportation

In response to rising gasoline prices, the White Lake Township Board of Trustees has increased the suggested donation to ride the two buses used to serve senior citizens and disabled residents in White Lake, Commerce Township, and Wolverine Lake.

The vehicles are used to transport senior citizens and disabled residents to medical centers, grocery stores, and senior centers.

Previously, it was suggested that riders donate $1 each way. Now, the suggested donation is $2, which went into effect on Wednesday, March 16.

Of course, the suggested donation remains just that — a suggestion.

“People pay what they can pay,” Dublin Senior Center Director Kathy Gordinear said.

Gordinear originally approached the White Lake board with the idea to raise the suggested donation to $3, a suggestion based on what other communities charge. Highland, Milford, and the village of Milford have a mandatory $3 fee for each trip, as do Clarkston and Independence and Springfield townships.

However, the White Lake board opted for just increasing the suggested donation by one dollar because members didn’t want it to triple.

Depending on gas prices, the issue may have to be revisited later and perhaps a mandatory fee instated, but for now riders are simply asked to make a donation of $2 each way.