On-It transportation study

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Information gathering may begin with a grant that would study whether a two-year project of coach-style buses linking Chestermere, Strathmore and Cochrane to Calgary is feasible.
The final project would see coach style buses having a couple of morning and evening routes that would link to the Calgary Light Rail Transit system.
“We don’t need to make a decision tonight, it is early. However there is a grant available that we would like to apply for,” said a Town of Strathmore spokesman at the recent town council meeting.
The first step is completing a feasibility study and a survey that would determine whether such a system would work. Council was asked if it could lend its support to apply for a $150,000 grant that would fund a study. The application is due towards the end of December 2016. The grant would be used for the study; money already allotted by the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) for a potential study would be diverted for service needs later down the line, if the project is agreed to by council and if this money is awarded.
“I think it is what they refer to as a no brainer,” said Coun. Bob Sobol. “It is not costing us anything and this is a way to ensure that it is a project that would succeed in our community. It is just an information gathering exercise.”
The southern communities two-year pilot program has not yet finished, and Coun. Rocky Blokland and Coun. Steve Grajczyk said they had thought Strathmore was waiting for results, prior to any decisions that involve Strathmore. Grajczyk said that he felt Strathmore’s population base needed to be at least 30,000; presently it hasn’t enough people to sustain a service of this kind.
“It’s too early, too soon,” said Grajczyk.
It was clarified that there is no requirement to commit to the project, or to participate in the feasibility grant and study. Coun. Denise Peterson said the CRP has stated any commitment by Strathmore will have a made-for-Strathmore solution, and that a survey is not a commitment.
When CRP transportation program lead Ettore Iannacito was asked if the pilot projects are considering the use by seniors and disabled riders going to Calgary, he responded: “The coach buses are not wheelchair accessible. The current pilot is geared towards commuters and we simply tried to accommodate that target market. It was decided by the CRP board that we needed to keep it simple to start with. There is always an opportunity to include accessible coaches with lifts in the future. We are keeping an eye on the demand and will plan accordingly.
“We will conduct survey research that is statistically valid to determine what type of service Strathmore, Chestermere and Cochrane residents want that is reasonable and affordable, for the pilot and the future,” added Iannacito. “This will determine the need for accessible coaches going forward.”
Council approved joining with Chestermere and Cochrane to apply for the feasibility study grant.