Major changes coming to Red Deer Transit

“It will be one that provides routes that are more direct and more responsive to being able to match higher ridership areas with higher levels of service for our community,” she says. “We still have more detailed planning and work to do now that we’ve been given the green light to move forward.”

Highlights:

The Gaetz Avenue Rapid Bus route becomes the system’s new spine, connecting highest ridership destinations along that corridor and linking to other connecting services at proposed north and south transit hubs, Sorensen Station and other points.

Core Routes support Rapid Bus Routes by providing direct service on major roads, making it easier to travel across the city without having to transfer downtown.

Neighbourhood Routes offer local service within neighbourhoods connecting to the Rapid Bus and Core Routes at their closest transit hub or other transfer points; may be less direct, but go closer to home for customers less able to walk to a stop.

In addition, the plan will provide a safer system in various respects and improve accessibility at bus stops. It will also be anchored by two new hubs on the south and north ends; on Bennett Street by Bower Place Shopping Centre, and on Kingston Drive just off of Gaetz Avenue.

Cost of implementation is zero, Burkinshaw adds, as all changes fit into the current transit budget. Among other things, however, The City could look at capital purchases like smaller buses. Those could be funded through $2.46 million in available Green Trip funding, though the municipality would need to contribute one-third. That will be considered during upcoming Capital Budget talks.

Burkinshaw admits there will be growing pains as the refreshed system rolls out, but The City will be working on a communications plan over the next several months so that residents and agencies who utilize transit are prepared.

This past summer, the public was given the chance to provide feedback on what may be to come for the future of Red Deer Transit. Asked what they valued most, about 50 per cent of 65 respondents cited safety as their number one concern.

About 77 per cent of 398 respondents strongly agreed with the statement that users should have access to frequent, connected, quality and safe transit service.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @vancan19)

Major changes coming to Red Deer Transit

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