The prospect of a bus route between New Carlisle, Mad River Twp. and Springfield as part of a jobs access grant is again moving forward after a delay early this year.

New Carlisle Manager Kim Jones said officials from the city, Mad River Twp. and Developmental Disabilities of Clark County met Monday and have more meetings scheduled to plan the route, which will likely begin in spring next year.

New Carlisle originally applied for and received a $35,000 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Program grant from the Federal Transportation Administration to start the route earlier this year.

But the Ohio Department of Transportation delayed sending the funding because it said additional language in New Carlisle’s proposal was required.

While revising its proposal, New Carlisle found out additional language was not needed if funds are managed by a nonprofit organization, so it turned over the grant to Developmental Disabilities of Clark County, which will manage the grant and provide the service, Jones said.

Mad River Twp. Trustee Kathy Estep said she was excited the township is participating in the project.

She expects it to increase affordable transportation opportunities for the elderly, those who might want additional recreation opportunities at recreation facilities and trails in Springfield and New Carlisle and those who can’t afford personal vehicles.

A proposed $1 to $2 rider fee and money from advertising on the bus will help offset costs to the local funders, Estep said.

“We hope people will use the service,” Estep said. “If they don’t, with the grant, it won’t be a terrible loss to try this out.”

Enon officials have also been approached about a possible stop in downtown, but that hasn’t been firmed up.

A 50 percent local match for the first try at opening the route was approved with the Department of Job and Family Services of Clark County, New Carlisle and Mad River Twp. committing a combined $35,000.

Job and Family Services later approved an additional $20,000 to partially fund the project through the end of 2013 and into 2014, according to Jones.

She said it’s the first time since the 1960s a bus route will run through the area. That route ran from Dayton to Springfield with a stop in Enon, according to Estep.

“It’s our first shot in years in having public transportation,” Estep said. “This is a big deal.”