Oneida, Vilas county boards authorize loan for new buses

As Northwoods Transit Connections (NTC) begins 2024, there will be three new Ford Transit vans in the fleet.

The Oneida and Vilas county boards, during the course of their respective meetings on Nov. 14, approved a resolution authorizing the Oneida Vilas Transit Commission (OVTC), which oversees NTC, to take out a short-term loan for $184,000 for the three vans. 

The loan will be paid off when the OVTC receives grant money from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) and the federal government.

“The money will be repaid probably over a 30-day span because we get funds, grants from the DOT once approval from both counties is granted,” OVTC committee chairman Marv Anderson told the Vilas County board during its Nov. 14 meeting 

NTC manager Barb Newman said the hope is for NTC to have the vans, which will replace three much older buses, by January.

“Which is actually fairly quick,” she said. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].