Ottawa provides $50K to city for adaptive transit updates
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 31, 2026.
Funding from the federal government will help the City of Medicine Hat update its special transit services.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medicine Hat is receiving federal funding to support updates to the city’s special transit services for people who live with disabilities.
Adaptive transit services offer specialized, shared-ride and curb-to-curb transportation services to eligible Hatters.
The city will receive up to $50,000 through the federal Rural Transit Solution Fund.
“Adaptive Transit in Medicine Hat serves as a lifeline for many residents, offering essential transportation for medical appointments, work, education and social and cultural activities,” said Gordon Dykstra, manager of transit services.
“A well-designed plan to implement recommendations from the city’s recent Adaptive Transit review will ensure improved efficiencies alongside equitable accessible customer care.”
Last summer, city staff presented council with an updated policy for adaptive transit that followed the recommendations following from a broad-based review conducted in 2024 that compared Medicine Hat’s special transit system to others in similar sized communities.
That review yielded 30 recommendations. Key findings included the need for improved scheduling, communication and flexibility in booking the service. It also suggested Medicine Hat improve service coverage in terms of trips per capita to better align with best practices in similar communities.
The federal funding is conditional on implementation of this plan being completed by July 1, 2027.
A total federal investment of just over $730,000 is supporting transit purchase and planning projects in six rural communities across Alberta.
In addition to the adaptive transit plan in Medicine Hat, funding in Lac. Ste Anne County will enable the purchase of a mini-bus for the Lac Ste. Anne Métis Community Association to provide on-demand transit for seniors and elders.
It will also be used to purchase two electric vehicles and charging stations for the Kehewin Cree Nation and an accessible van for the Edson Senior’s Transportation Society.
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