Transit has been topical in Cochrane for the last decade, having been debated by three councils and is likely to either be given the green or red light at the Sept. 10 council session. Most recently, the current town council heard from the town's transit task force that an on-demand transit service would be the most viable option for Cochrane – costing around half-a-million per year to operate, or around one-third the cost of a traditional fixed-route transit system. An on-demand system would also have the ability to service all of Cochrane. The town has until the end of 2020 to spend the $6 million in GreenTRIP federal funding dollars on capital infrastructure for transit - which can only be used for transit. An additional $3 million in provincial MSI grant dollars has been earmarked for transit, although these funds can go toward other infrastructure needs. Early estimations reveal that an on-demand transit system would cost roughly $5 per month on the average tax bill, with ride fares around $3 and a range of bus passes available. Average wait times would span 20 to 30 minutes and buses would operate seven days per week, with hours to be determined. To date, the response from council has been mixed, with Coun. Susan Flowers on one end of the spectrum - frustrated that the growing town fails to have a bus system in place to provide safe and affordable transportation for groups such as seniors, youth and single-vehicle households. Coun. Alex Reed has led the discussion of concern over estimated costs and the long-term low cost-recovery model that is typical of transit, given the town's mounting infrastructure deficits and the ballooning costs of the recent pool/curling centre addition at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC). The Eagle has reached out to different demographics to get a better sense of the various potential users of transit and how they currently get around town without a public transit system. Seniors The Eagle sat down with six seniors at Evergreen Manor – the government-assisted, independent living apartment building in the East End. Out of these six, two use mobility supports (wheelchair/walker/crutches) and half do not drive at all, namely due to health-related concerns brought on by age. All six agreed they would use a bus, should the town implement some kind of a system. All six agreed that public transit would help retain their independence and alleviate the pressure they feel they place on family and friends for rides about town. In the interim, those who drive do so sparingly as their confidence for nighttime, peak hour and driving into Calgary has fallen with age. Those who do not drive use the Community Access Resource (CAR) program through Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), the volunteer driver program through Helping Hands and the Rocky View Handi Bus and the good will of family and friends. "I have no confidence to drive in the winter at all," said May Wong. "I wanted (transit) five or six years ago ... I'm so ready to give up my car." Faye Gowan, who has to use a walker and said she will soon graduate to a wheelchair, said that it takes planning to get around town and that the taxi vouchers only get her around two round-trips per month. "I ran out of vouchers the other week," she said, explaining that she can't get more until next month and the affordability of taxi cabs just isn't there. It is thanks to her family that she makes it to most of her appointments. "Absolutely," said Gowan, when asked if she would use transit regularly. For Ken DeGray, if the town could implement a transit system for a reasonable cost – both to the user and the taxpayer – he would love to see buses on the roads. "It gets down to brass tax, if you're in a pinch your children (usually) will step up," said DeGray, adding that he would welcome not having to inconvenience family and friends for rides. Mary Fraser, although she still drives, would like to use her car less often and hop on a bus more. "I would love to see buses here – not just for the seniors, but for everybody." Grocery shopping, medical appointments, church, social outings and trips to the SLSFSC and Seniors on the Bow Centre located at the sports centre were among the top destinations for the group of six. Several also mentioned the need for a regional service to connect to Calgary. Young mom A Cochrane mother of two young children reached out to the Eagle to lend her two cents on living in one of the outlying communities as a non-driver. She has requested anonymity. The outlying communities are any of those not near the downtown core – including Sunset Ridge, GlenEagles, Fireside, River Heights and the Willows, Heritage Hill and Heartland. "It's so hard ... it's kind of a barrier in our lives to grow and to succeed in our goals," said the woman, who immigrated to Canada and has lived in Cochrane for three years. "They should bring some transit for a reasonable price." The woman, whose husband drives to Calgary to work during the day, said the lack of transportation has left her in some degree of isolation – as she does not have an affordable or safe means to travel to and from the Parent Link Centre for baby and toddler classes, to the SLSFSC or the library. For her, the lack of transit has also impacted her ability to work. While she now works part-time in Cochrane, she said she had to seek out employment that scheduled around her husband's commute to and from the city. She said she is grateful to FCSS for the CAR program and the Helping Hands driver program for their support, although there are limitations to both. Recent grad A single young man in his early 20s also connected with the Eagle, also requesting anonymity. Hailing from Edmonton, he has lived in Cochrane for two and a half years. He lives in the downtown Cochrane area and said his choice in residency was determined by the absence of transit. "There's these different pockets in town ... if you want to get from downtown to Sunset or Heartland or Fireside, it gets more challenging," he said, adding that he uses his bike to get around town – which is hit and miss in the icy winter months. "I was a little disappointed to find out there wasn't a bus system," he said, adding that when attending college in Edmonton he was a daily user of transit. Family man Mike Poettcker laughs about moving to Cochrane from Montreal, Que. four years ago and the signatory eye roll he got from his teenagers when they learned they would have to largely rely on their parents to boot them from their Riversong home to downtown. "I think it's high time as a town that we grab the opportunity that seems to be here," said Poettcker, with reference to the grant dollars available for capital infrastructure (bus depot, stops and buses). "I would definitely use it myself ... my whole family would," said Poettcker, who has two of his three kids still living at home with him and his wife – who both work in Cochrane. "Even if I wasn't planning on using transit myself, I'd happily support it with my tax dollars. I think it improves quality of life for everyone," he said, adding that he would love to pare down their household to one vehicle. Helping Hands and FCSS Jackie Shier is the executive director of Helping Hands – a volunteer-driven charity that connects vulnerable citizens to necessary services. They also facilitate the biannual Cochrane Food Drive for the Activettes Food Bank, the next of which takes place Sept. 15. "We're in touch with a lot of vulnerable citizens who could benefit from transit," said Shier, explaining that their volunteer driver program, which is a low-cost alternative to get people where they need to go, is not a long-term solution for daily rides. "Last year, we gave 169 (roundtrip) rides," she said, explaining that around one-third of these trips are around town and two-thirds to Calgary - namely for medical appointments. Shier said the lack of transit is particularly challenging for those living outside the downtown core. Annemarie Tocher, resource centre co-ordinator for FCSS, explained that the CAR program (Community Access Rescource) began in 2009 to help vulnerable citizens get around town. The program was originally jointly funding by FCSS and the United Way, with the Town of Cochrane stepping in by 2015 with annual funding contributions. "Last funding year, 2017, the direct transportation costs budget request was $25,000, and the cost at year end was $28,435. This reflects a range of use from occasional to the maximum use each month. If all participants used the full amount allocated to them, the cost would be $90,240, based on 2017," Tocher recently wrote in a report delivered to the town's transit task force. Last year, 235 participants used the service. Participants must meet eligibility criteria, as per low-income thresholds set by the federal government. While the majority of users have reported that the CAR program has helped them, with 32 vouchers provided monthly, the program is limited – especially for those living in outlying communities, due to distance travelled and unregulated taxi rates. Neither program is advertised due to funding limitations and concerns they cannot fill demand. The eligibility requirements of both programs also miss a segment of the population whose income barely leaves them eligible for either program – which has posed an ethical dilemma for staff. According to FCSS, the identifiable groups who would benefit the most from transit include older adults and seniors, youth and young families. To become a volunteer driver for Helping Hands, visit helpinghandscochrane.ca.
