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Transit issue prompts Kleinsteuber to run for council

Why is Jamie Kleinsteuber running for a seat on Cochrane’s town council? Simple: transit. “I see how other communities around the world have transit services and this town is off the map,” said Kleinsteuber.
Jamie Kleinsteuber believes Cochrane needs a commuter transit service to link the town with Calgary.
Jamie Kleinsteuber believes Cochrane needs a commuter transit service to link the town with Calgary.

Why is Jamie Kleinsteuber running for a seat on Cochrane’s town council? Simple: transit.

“I see how other communities around the world have transit services and this town is off the map,” said Kleinsteuber.

A candidate for the New Democratic Party in last year’s provincial election, Kleinsteuber said he is a strong advocate for getting an inter-city transit system that would service Cochranites commuting into Calgary up and running as soon as possible.

“The core route must be built first,” said Kleinsteuber, suggesting the commuter service be launched and reassessed after the next election in 2017, and that a decision be made at that time whether or not it should continue.

Kleinsteuber believes Cochrane’s population is ready for a bus service, and in an effort to take advantage of provincial funding – GreenTRIP and New Deal grants – feels the endeavour should be tackled sooner rather than later to ensure Cochrane does not have to swallow any startup costs.

He also feels an inter-city system would enhance the service Southland already provides. Kleinsteuber said Southland targets a specific commuter – one who travels between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. and is headed to the same location in Calgary for employment purposes – and a new service is needed for those who do not fall into that category.

Kleinsteuber, who currently works at the Calgary International Airport, points to the twinned Highway 1 and 1A, and asks what more can be done to help alleviate traffic pressures other than bringing in a commuter transit service to the region to help take some vehicles off the roads.

The first-time councillor candidate said the town’s consultation process for transit came at a huge cost to Cochrane taxpayers and in the end, did not address the core root of a transit service.

Traffic flow in general is an area Kleinsteuber wants to better streamline, saying, “One access to communities is a dangerous precedent to set.”

A new bridge from the Riversong community over the Bow River is one effort Kleinsteuber supports to help better traffic flow in Cochrane.

One of the most-talked about election issues so far this cycle – the new Aquatic Centre – was an area of caution for Kleinsteuber, who said the project should not be debt heavy.

“Having shovels in the ground next year is not responsible,” he said, relating the funding of the pool to how he views his own personal finances – paying for something up front with cash instead of borrowing is always better.

Kleinsteuber said if elected to council he would be open and receptive to business in Cochrane. He also said a grocery site in the south of Cochrane for residents of communities like Fireside and Riversong would be beneficial and should be pursued.

Committing to high-density housing is a more favourable approach for Kleinsteuber as opposed to urban sprawl, as long as there is access and services for residents.

Though he loves the natural layout and atmosphere in Cochrane, Kleinsteuber admits that the topography does pose a challenge when it comes to increasing community access.

Extending Cochrane’s pathway system is another objective for Kleinsteuber, particularly into Heritage Hills, where he said there isn’t a link yet.

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