New provincial funding is being proposed to help Cochrane develop an accessible regional bus service connecting the town to Calgary.
Cochrane will receive $2.125 million of the $215 million that is slated to aid 33 communities develop green transit solutions. A majority of the funding, $141 million, was earmarked from the province's Climate Leadership Plan.
The Alberta Community Transit (ACT) Fund, which was announced yesterday, will be used to expand the current regional On-It Service to include an electric fleet of accessible buses, expand the schedule, connect with Cochrane’s local on-demand transit service and increase stop options in Calgary.
“The expansion of the regional service and integration with the local on-demand service is another small step to reduce the number of low occupancy vehicles travelling between Cochrane and Calgary each day,” explained Mayor Genung. “Investing in electric regional buses furthers Cochrane as a leader in green technology, research and innovation.”
Communities are expected to match the dollars they receive. The Town of Cochrane is proposing to raise its portion of the investment through a fare collection partnership with Southland Transportation Ltd.
The new buses will be owned by the town and operated by Southland Transportation Ltd., as part of the local and regional integrated transit service. Ownership of the regional fleet will enable Cochrane to collect fares, negotiate low fare prices and gain greater regional transit autonomy.
The proposed electric regional bus service will connect Cochrane to the Crowfoot Calgary Transit interchange and provide daily service to the University of Calgary and SAIT during the school year. This service will also allow Calgary residents who work in Cochrane to connect from Calgary Transit to the new Cochrane transit hub and then use the new on-demand transit system to arrive at their place of work. If demand requires, this service will operate six days a week, allowing Cochrane and area residents to travel into Calgary on Saturday and link to the Banff On-It service in the summer months.
“Currently, the regional On-It service operates three routes direct to downtown Calgary with diesel coach buses,” added Genung. “These buses are not equipped with an accessible lift or entrance ramp. Investing in electric, accessible buses is a great opportunity for us to enhance an existing service, while also aiming to reduce the service’s environmental impact.”
