Local Non-Profit Tapped for City’s new Car Share Program
Greg Dronkert is at it again. The Bainbridge Island entrepreneur and founder of Pac Westy (https://pacwesty.com/), a tourism and transportation company located in the Day Road Business Park, recently formed Mobility for All – a non-profit devoted to car-sharing and other sustainable transportation objectives. The organization was just awarded a $193,247 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Zero-emissions Access Program (ZAP) program.
Grant funds will be used to purchase two electric vehicles and install EV chargers at Town Square, located adjacent to City Hall in Downtown Winslow, as part of a community car share pilot program. The City was approached by Mobility for All as a potential host site for an EV car share program given the goals outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Transportation Plan. Grant funding is available for this project through June 2023, with the launch of the car share program anticipated in early 2023.
“This project represents an important step in providing equitable access to electric vehicles,” says City Manager Blair King. According to the EPA Smart Location Database, Town Square is located within the area of the highest number of low-income workers and the highest number of zero-car households in the city. “This car share location will particularly serve those community members with an efficient and environmentally responsible way to get their groceries, run errands during the workday, and get to medical appointments, work, or school activities.” King adds.
As a partner in this program, the City is providing the following support:
- Conversion of up to four existing parking spaces at City Hall to be dedicated to electric vehicle charging.
- Up to $20,000 in matching funds previously allocated by City Council in the 2021-22 budget for implementation of the 2020 Climate Action Plan.
- And, promotion of the car share program to local nonprofits serving low-income, elderly, and disabled residents, and to City staff, island residents and visitors.
Among its many business segments, Pac Westy rents mostly Volkswagen Westfalia camper vans to visitors interested in touring the Pacific Northwest; repairs and converts vans to electric power; and delivers groceries to customers for stores, such as Town & Country Markets.
“We’re betting that zero emission propulsion, and primarily electric (transmissions) are going to be the most successful modes” of transportation going forward, says Dronkert. “How people move and how to get them into electric vehicles, that’s our goal.”
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