INNISFAIL – The town has formally discontinued its participation in the two-way regional transit service to the City of Red Deer.
The final council decision came at its March 22 regular meeting when councillors unanimously approved a recommendation from staff to end the town’s participation of the two-year pilot project on March 31, as it was not economically viable to continue without provincial funding.
The project’s other regional two partners, the Town of Penhold and Red Deer County, also agreed last month to discontinue the service, which operated under a $700,000 grant from the provincial government.
“The pilot project served as a real-time test of the demand for ongoing transit within these communities. Based on cost and low ridership, it is not a fiscally responsible option to keep the route in service,” said Jo-Ann Symington, community services manager for Red Deer County in a March 15 news release.
The two-year pilot project, known as the 2A South Regional Transit service, began in Innisfail on Jan. 14, 2019. It was extended by the province to the end of March, with no further funding beyond the pilot project phase.
“For those that have used the 2A South Regional Transit service, the completion of this project will be a loss for them,” said Karen Bradbury, the town's community and social development coordinator, in her presentation to council on March 22.
“Additionally, the Town of lnnisfail will have limited transportation options for our residents and individuals going forward.
“Individuals will have to rely on friends, family or other transportation services to go between lnnisfail and Red Deer for essential services that are not available or may be limited in lnnisfail. Other modes of transportation are much more costly than the rates that were provided through the 2A South Regional Transit pilot project.”
While ridership for the regional transit service more than doubled from the first quarter in 2019 to the third quarter, from 657 to 1,478, the report also showed it declined dramatically by the second quarter of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
In March of 2020, ridership plummeted by 50 per cent due to the impact of the pandemic. Ridership figures for that period was just 487.
Total ridership in 2019 was 4,875. However, ridership for all of 2020 fell to 3,774.
Coun. Don Harrison asked Bradbury whether participating communities were looking at a smaller regional service to help fill the void.
Bradbury replied other options have been looked at, such as an in-demand service, but without additional provincial assistance it was not possible.
However, she added the local transportation committee is still examining other possibilities, including a service from Red Deer that provides volunteer drivers.
“It’s great to hear as there are a number of people that rely on that service,” said Harrison. “It is hard to take something away when they have it.”
