A pilot transit program between Brooks and Medicine Hat is a necessity for many requiring medical treatment that is not available in Brooks. For the service to continue beyond the middle of November there will need to be additional funds.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
A transit service between Brooks and Medicine Hat is a vital link to get necessary medical treatment for some, and it will be in jeopardy without an injection of funding.
“Some patrons need access to life-sustaining health care services such as kidney care, mental health, cancer treatment. It is considered an essential service,” said Amanda Peterson, deputy CAO for the City of Brooks, noting the service continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peterson says cancer treatment and dialysis are not available in Brooks.
“We worked hand-in-hand with Alberta Health Services to make sure that we followed all of the protocols and guidelines (for COVID) that needed to be in place in order for us to continue our service,” said Peterson.
The transit service began in February 2019 as a regional pilot program facilitated by the City of Brooks, using one of its special transit buses. It was possible because there was $56,000 remaining from a 2014 provincial government grant in for regional transportation.
Within three months numbers on each trip – three days a week – were fluctuating between six and 16 passengers. The capacity of the special needs transit bus is 16, plus three people in wheelchairs.
The primary purpose was and is transit for medical appointments in Medicine Hat but can be used for other purposes, too. Currently there are between five and 10 passengers, with about 80 per cent using it for medical appointments. In some cases people also needed to get to the Medicine Hat Airport or the Service Canada office, said Peterson.
The bus leaves Brooks for Medicine Hat at 8 a.m., and departs for Brooks about 3 p.m.
Passengers must pre-book by calling 403-362-6190 and the cost is $10 one-way or $20 for a round trip.
What remains of the original grant and a one-time donation of $10,000 from the Brooks & District Health Foundation, will allow the pilot project to continue until the middle of November, said Peterson.
The current economic climate for municipalities will make it difficult for funding from those traditional sources, she said.
“We are still hopeful that external funds will surface,” she said noting consideration is also be given to an increase in the price of a ticket for a trip.
The bus needs about $62,400 per year to operate with the average cost per round trip being about $400 depending on the number of passengers, said Peterson.
