Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.
(Town of Blackfalds)
keeping people moving

Blackfalds finds replacement for departing BOLT Transit service

Jul 18, 2020 | 9:00 AM

Town of Blackfalds officials say there will be a near seamless transition from the outgoing BOLT Transit service to new service for residents to get around town and to and from Red Deer.

The City of Lacombe opted out of the BOLT Transit agreement last fall and the service is scheduled to end on August 28.

This week, Blackfalds town council approved a contract for Prairie Bus Lines to operate a two-year pilot program tentatively starting August 31.

The concept is nearly identical to Red Deer’s old Dial-A-Bus system, though riders will also be able to book a trip using a mobile app. It will run 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily on weekdays, and utilize a handful of stops in Blackfalds, as well as the transit stop at Gaetz Avenue and Kingston Drive in north Red Deer.

“The Town has explored a number of different service level options. With the ending of BOLT service and through that exploration process, an on-demand system seems to be the best fit for what we want to do today and going forward for our transit riders in the future,” says Preston Weran, director of infrastructure and property services with the Town of Blackfalds. “By working collaboratively with the public, our team will have flexibility to develop a service model best suited to Blackfalds residents as we grow this service.”

The service comes at a cost of $186,368 yearly. There is an additional cost of $54,000 which the Town will incur by purchasing a 2019 2500 RAM Promaster Wheelchair Van with rear hydraulics from the Town of Okotoks.

Administration says this is an “excellent price” for a vehicle that will allow up to seven passengers plus one wheelchair-bound person to use the service. Each year, the service will provide an estimated 7500 to 8200 rides.

Weran explains that trips can be booked on the RideCo mobile app potentially up to two weeks in advance, and with as short notice as 30 minutes.

He also says fares are proposed to be the same s BOLT, and the first month will likely be free to provide riders an opportunity to familiarize themselves.

Blackfalds will be the latest community to implement such a service in Alberta, after Cochrane, Okotoks, Calgary and Edmonton.

Prairie Bus Lines was the only proponent to submit a proposal after the Town put out an RFP in May.

The Town is also looking at developing a charter service for weekends that transport non-profits or youth groups around Blackfalds.