Transit talks in Cochrane lately are turning traditional thoughts about buses on its head. Devin LaFleche, transit analyst for the Town of Cochrane, is hitting the pavement and looking to connect with as many townspeople as possible ahead of an Aug. 13 presentation to council on what transit could look like in town. LaFleche, who is joined in his public engagement efforts with the town’s transit task force, is pleasantly surprised that even among his most skeptical of audiences he is gaining favour with the idea that by capitalizing on technology, transit for Cochrane in the form of an on-demand model could be affordable both for the user and taxpayer. “Transit has really lagged behind with technology,” said LaFleche, adding that what Cochrane could do through an on-demand service would be “innovative and progressive for a town of this size.” As the town has evolved since transit talks began roughly a decade ago - sprawling at the north, south and west corners of town and more than doubling in population, so has the transit industry morphed. Through this, LaFleche and the town’s transit task force is examining various service levels that could be incorporated into an on-demand “made-in-Cochrane” transit solution. “Through the ($9 million GreenTRIP) grant monies we are able to purchase buses (around eight) and build a transit hub,” explained LaFleche, confirming that the town would look to contract out bus services rather than provide drivers, mechanical and maintenance in-house; Cochrane has until 2021 to use the GreenTRIP dollars, approved in 2011. Tying in with regional transit. Security and tracking to promote parents getting kids on buses rather than chauffeuring them around town. Pre-booking up to five days in advance. Faster wait times and expanded coverage areas. Smaller, more compact “buses” (around half the size of a traditional public bus). Possibilities of front-door service for senior and youth centres. LaFleche, with boundless energy and enthusiasm, feels the “sky is the limit” with what transit could do. He also said that people can forget about about a giant diesel machine carting around two people and stopping at stops regardless of demand. The City of Airdrie has had buses on the road since 1980. Last September, the city - with a population over 60,000 people - revamped and improved efficiencies with its public transit system by adding an on-demand component through contracting a transportation networking company (TNC) to fill in service gaps; the contract was awarded to Cowboy Taxi Ltd. for a three-year term. “The uptake has been great,” said Michelle Lock, director of community services for the City of Airdrie. “It’s more efficient to use a TNC to provide the access, coverage and service than a traditional bus.” Lock said that coverage has increased to 100 per cent of Airdrie versus only about 40 per cent before the launch of the on-demand service, which is largely a connector to traditional local and regional bus services. Airdrie’s 2018 total transit budget is $1.5 million, said Lock. According to LaFleche, a round table public discussion held on June 21 resulted in arched eyebrows, warm reception and quick nods as people quickly learned how they think of buses is a far cry from where he and the committee want to go. One of the biggest emphases has been on ensuring Cochranites can age in place. “Mobility as a service gives you many options ... the committee is focused on if you lose your ability to drive, you can still maintain a certain level of independence.” Three town council representatives, Mayor Jeff Genung and Couns. Marni Fedeyko and Tara McFadden sit on the transit task force, along with six community representatives - four public-at-large, one from Cochrane Society for Housing Options and one from Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). While a report was supposed to be presented for council’s consideration in July, this was moved up to August in order to execute ample public engagement. “Technology has made this so much more possible and feasible ... we (have the potential to) service all of our community for (roughly) one-third of the cost,” said McFadden, who is committed to a transit system that would be fully accessible for all walks and wheels and can evolve to fit the town’s needs over time. Genung is keen on early indications revealing that an on-demand transit system - with the potential to expand to ride-sharing and car-pooling options through an advanced app - would cost “a fraction” of what a traditional public transit system would. “My ultimate goal with transit - should Cochrane choose to go in this direction - is to have a system that everyone in this community is proud of, even it it isn’t being used by everyone,” said Mayor Jeff Genung, who is keen on any transit talk being centered on the efficiencies that technology would afford. “To me, it’s more than putting a bus on the street ... this is not the transit you think it is. This is not the same bus your mom rode.” Prior to exploration of an on-demand scenario, an ultimate bus network was flagged to take around $1.5 million per year out of the town’s operations budget. Pared-down scenarios put that number down to around half a million, but resulted in limited bus times and routes and no weekend services. LaFleche said a full-service on-demand network, based ridership estimates by Calgary Transit, would cost much less than the pared-down service, although estimates are too preliminary to nail down a firm number. The town is looking to the community to help determine what service standards are desired in Cochrane. Visit letstalkcochrane.ca to take the transit survey.
