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Copeland excited to offer input to provincial transit strategy

After six months of offering free transit to the residents of Cold Lake, Mayor Craig Copeland is eager to showcase the system to the province. “We welcome the NDP government to come in and have a look at it.
The City of Cold Lake is hoping to showcase their new transit system on the provincial stage.
The City of Cold Lake is hoping to showcase their new transit system on the provincial stage.

After six months of offering free transit to the residents of Cold Lake, Mayor Craig Copeland is eager to showcase the system to the province.

“We welcome the NDP government to come in and have a look at it. We think we have a model for rural communities to look at,” said Copeland.

The province has started to seek public input regarding the future of public transit across Alberta. Citizens, including municipal officials, are invited to provide their thoughts on funding criteria for new transit initiatives and rural bus services, as well as a new provincial transit strategy.

Copeland reached out to the government soon after he received the notification about the transit engagement process, feeling the city has a newly development system others should take note of.

“We will take part in the conversation but we also want to showcase what we have done here in Cold Lake,” said Copeland. “We came forward and heavily subsidized a transit system in the city.”

City council purchased six used buses from the Calgary Transit Authority this past summer and officially launched the transit system on Aug. 26, 2015. The buses currently run on two routes – one loop going north and the other going south with both routes meeting at the Tri City Mall. The buses run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Feeling that public transit was a necessity for their residents city council made the decision to heavily subsidize the operation so they could offer it to residents for free.

“I have ridden it quite a few times and the people I have talked to are so happy we have it,” said Copeland. “I am really proud of council and administration for keeping it free. It is really helping a lot of people…some people who are barely hanging on financially.”

Since the transit system began operating the service has averaged 386 riders per day, with the peak riding hours landing between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“It has been fantastic. It has exceeded council's expectations. We are pleasantly surprised,” said Copeland.

Alberta's Ministry of Transportation will be opening up two streams of engagement – urban and rural – and providing the public with a variety of avenues to offer their thoughts, including an online public survey. All of these options will aim to help in the development of an overall provincial transit strategy and criteria for future funding initiatives.

“An improved transit system will encourage more commuters to choose transit, reducing congestion in our cities and helping us meet our climate change goals,” said Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation.

“Improved rural bus service will provide Albertans living in smaller communities with reliable access to essential services in larger centres, like health care facilities. It's time for us to create a new vision for transit in Alberta.”

According to Mason, Alberta Transportation representatives will meet with non-elected officials from municipalities, Indigenous communities, private industry, labour groups, social advocacy groups and non-profit transit and bus operators.

Stakeholders will also be able to provide written feedback through a consultation workbook online.

Copeland, who is unsure how he will be utilized in the engagement process, is ready and willing to participate.

“For rural Alberta (transit help) could be a lot of things, like looking at a community help bus where you are helping the elderly get to their appointments in Edmonton,” said Copeland. “I am hoping they see past buses. I think getting commercial air service to Cold Lake would also improve the quality of life for the area.”

It is not yet known how long the province plans to consult with the public as no timeframe was announced.

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