Coral’s Coach in discussions for possible transit system

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

The town’s transportation woes may soon be hitting the road, as newly formed company, Coral’s Coach, is standing by with necessary certifications and vehicles to implement a proposed transit service in Strathmore.
Earlier this year, the municipality’s lack of public transportation raised concerns among those finding themselves without wheels. Charter company Coral’s Coach approached Strathmore’s town council on May 10 determined to provide a solution to the town’s transportation problems.
Equipped with a 27-passenger executive bus, a four-passenger safari van with additional wheelchair capability and a Crown Victoria sedan for taxi services, the company’s ambitions include aiding in the creation of a transportation system catering to all ages of Strathmore’s population, including its seniors and those in need of wheelchair transportation.
While the proposal in council chambers focuses on a scheduled pre-planned bus route that covers 85 per cent of the public’s hot spots, Coral’s Coach president Coral Lea Hallwas and Operations Manager Kent Repchin have a much farther-reaching system in mind: a regional system that provides transportation to Langdon, Chestermere and Calgary.
“We’ll get wheels on the ground and people moving, that’s basically what we want to do,” said Repchin, who has more than 10 years experience in the transportation business. “We have the means, we have the vehicles and we want to do better for people than a business. This is more of a personal thing for us than it is coming at it as a full blown ‘we’re going to make a million dollars out of this.’ We want to contribute to the community because we have the resources to do this.”
The proposed 45-minute bus route starts out at Tina’s No Frills before heading east on Highway 1 towards the Co-op, making its way down the Ranch area towards the Strathmore Fire Department hall. From there the bus moves along Lakeside Blvd. before making a loop up Third and Second Avenue. The bus will then continue to travel along Park Lane Drive to George Freeman Trail before cutting through Maplewood Drive and over into Strathaven.
Back on Brent Blvd. the route moves north to Hillview before heading south on Thomas Drive, through the downtown and into Strathmore Lakes Estates, circling around to the Strathmore RCMP and then back to Tina’s No Frills. The route would cover hot spots such as the hospital, shopping, doctor offices, recreation areas, day cares and schools, and would provide additional stops to the ag grounds during the Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days.
Furthermore, the current charter service, which was established this year, would offer wheelchair access, car service and airport transportation, and provide booking opportunities through their website, phone calls or an app.
Currently the company provides charters to various groups and organizations – including tour groups, schools and children camps – in the region spanning from Strathmore, Langdon, Chestermere to Calgary and Okotoks.
It was Coral’s Coach’s focus on safety that attracted the attention of several councillors.
Drivers – three of which are presently employed – are required to have first aid, a clean criminal record check and provide a driver’s abstract, while the vehicles are registered under Alberta Transportation with a fully licensed government safety inspection – Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP).
“Council is authorized to influence and set rates as one of the powers we get from the Municipal Government Act. Despite the fact that some people think we were pretty hard on the old taxi companies, we’ve never done that because our focus has always been on safety and health,” said Councillor Bob Sobol. “Everything that council has done has been focused on those two items. I’m happy that it looks like those are the two items (Coral’s Coach) is also focused on. This is an administration issue; there’re regulations of what you have to do to get your license and all I’ll say as a councillor is that I hope it happens very quickly because our people do need a bus service.”
With no overhead, as all vehicles are owned by the company, Repchin informed council about their flexibility in rates. However, council was provided with possible rates for adults at $2.50, 10 tickets for $25 or a monthly pass for $65. Youth, students and seniors would be charged $2, $20 or $50 respectively. Children under the age of five would ride for free. The wheelchair van would charge a flat rate of $20 one-way in town, and car service for one to four passengers is accompanied by a flat rate of $10 one-way in town. A one-way trip to Calgary was also proposed at $45.
When asked by council whether anything in the town’s bylaw would pose problematic for the company to set up shop, Repchin replied the company already adheres to the bylaw’s conditions.
“Realistically we want to help and we also want to grow and employ so it’s not just mom and pop, it would be probably instantly two to seven people right away and that’s pretty significant,” said Repchin. “We’re used to all sorts of people and all sorts of situations, but those are our standards. So really your bylaw is our standards, so I don’t see an issue.”
If the company receives the green light from the town, the company would determine in the first few months the best route depending on demand and the necessity of adding more vehicles.
Council urged Coral’s Coach to begin the licensing process immediately; however, the company will have to meet with administration and the town’s standards to get their vehicles on the road.
“This is like a breath of fresh air for us … and we always wanted the local transportation companies to be successful. But they had to be successful within the bylaw to ensure that our riders have safe, clean, smoke-free vehicles,” said Mayor Pat Fule. “This looks really promising to me so I’m looking forward to hearing from administration as far as the next steps and when we can see (their) vehicles around town.”