Pilot program for rural busing won’t include the Hat just yet

By Collin Gallant on June 29, 2018.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com @CollinGallant

A provincial pilot program to boost busing in rural Alberta isn’t making a stop in the southeastern corner, at least not yet, according to Transportation Minister Brian Mason.

He unveiled his ministry’s support for four programs located in Camrose and Grande Prairie, which will see $1.1 million spent to increase ride-sharing and add daily bus services from outlying communities to the regional centres.

The program, included in this spring’s budget but without much details, was on the radar of officials in Medicine Hat, they confirmed at the time.

However, a limited rollout Thursday described daily services between Camrose and Edmonton, provided by Red Arrow Buslines, as well as ride-sharing co-ordination as the result of $450,000 over three years.

Another $640,000 was granted for regional services in northeast Alberta to bring residents of Sexsmith and several other towns to Grande Prairie for medical appointments, shopping or other reasons.

“We heard loud and clear that enhanced public transportation was a priority in rural Alberta,” said Mason. “The question is how to connect to regional centres of Red Deer or Grande Prairie or Medicine Hat … There will be more to come.”

Adding to speculation on future announcements tentatively scheduled before year-end, is the fact that legislation bars the government from making program or grant announcements in locations where bylelections are ongoing.

Residents will do so in Fort McMurray as well as Sylvan Lake-Innisfail, while Red Deer was specifically mentioned as a prime location for such a program.

Mason mentioned the statute, and said other proposals at other locations required further study.

Daily trips between Edmonton and Camrose will be promoted as a boost to students at the University of Alberta’s remote campus in the city of Camrose, as well as promote back-and-forth travel for those without access to a motor vehicle or aged populations without drivers licences.

The program calls for mid-sized cities to develop plans to connect outlying communities “where services currently do not exist.”

“It ensures people can get where they need to go,” said Mason. “It’s not meant to be a comprehensive program, but test ideas and we have some very good ideas here.”

Lars Hallstrom, who heads the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities at Augustana College in Camrose, said access to transportation is a hindrance for youth as well as seniors in rural areas.

“Transportation needs aren’t limited to major urban municipalities,” he said. “It’s a challenge for traditional smaller communities as well.”