A volunteer-driven transport organization that serves southeast New Brunswick hopes to purchase a fleet of wheelchair accessible hybrid minivans.

"Our service is designed to improve the quality of life for people with little or no access to transportation," said Kelly Taylor, executive director of Urban/Rural Rides NB during a presentation at Sackville town council on May 31. 

Its clients include seniors, people with moderate disabilities, low-income people and newcomers. But the group doesn't have the ability to transport people in wheelchairs.

Now, they hope to buy more than a dozen vans retrofitted with wheelchair ramps, with financial assistance from Ottawa – one vehicle each of the 13 "entities" in southeast New Brunswick that will be created as part of local governance reforms that are currently underway.

Taylor spoke to CHMA on Monday from her home in Grande-Digue about the high cost of fuel, the need for volunteer drivers, and the group's efforts to make life better for people in wheelchairs.