The Town of Olds is looking to replace its current van used for the Sunshine Bus service.
At council's March 17 policies and priorities meeting, director of community services Doug Wagstaff outlined the town's plan for finding a new van, including the purchasing budget, what features are being sought for the new vehicle and the potential procurement process.
The Sunshine Bus is a town-owned and operated shuttle service for people 50 or older and those who have a disability. The vehicle is wheelchair-accessible and a one-way trip costs $3.
The budget earmarked for the purchase of a new van is $80,000.
Of that sum, $68,000 will come from the Sunshine Bus reserve, where surplus money unused by the program goes.
The remaining $12,000 will come from taxes, Wagstaff said.
He said administration requested quotes from vendors but they ended up costing more than the town's budget, reaching as high as $132,000 for a new vehicle.
In response, administration looked to the web for alternatives.
ìWhen we were looking at the specs online just to get an idea, that's when we came across that there's some deals to be had but they're not in our immediate region. They're around North America,î Wagstaff said. ìAnd they are from other reputable bus dealers that are normally in a regional perspective but have now put stuff up on surplus online so that they could sell it beyond their Ö traditional area.î
According to Wagstaff, council would approve a specific vehicle during a traditional procurement process, narrowing the choice down to a certain brand, specifications and price.
ìOne of the alternatives is to say we'll get a bus that will meet these specifications, it might be a Ford, it might be a GM, it might be whatever. And it might be from a vendor in Saskatoon, it could be from a vendor in Tennessee,î he said. ìBut if you give administration directive to purchase it, then we'll do so when the price is right.î
Currently, the vehicle used for the Sunshine Bus service is a 2004 Ford Crestline Braun Para-transit van, purchased by the town in 2005. With 114,000 km on the odometer, it has reached the end of its life, according to Wagstaff's presentation at the meeting.
Repair costs for the van each year also reach up to 35 per cent of the vehicle's market value.
The province once provided $17,693 in funding through the Municipal Affairs Transportation Grant. Ever since that program ended in 2010, the Town of Olds has spent $21,000 annually on the Sunshine Bus service.
The town is also considering replacing its van with a more spacious vehicle for greater manoeuvrability inside, low-floored entry and a wheelchair ramp, Wagstaff said.
The current van carries some stigma because it lacks headroom and requires a lot of assistance for passengers to board, he continued. For example, people who use walkers must be physically helped into the vehicle and the walkers have to be folded up.
ìThere are some that feel that they'd like a little bit more independence in getting on,î Wagstaff said. ìYou can't stand up fully in the van. You literally have to have your head down on a bent and step up at the same time.î
Currently, the Sunshine Bus operates as a taxi-like service, making a single pickup and drop-off at a time as opposed to a bus-like service.
One member of council questioned the point of buying a larger vehicle considering the cost and that there are no plans to expand the Sunshine Bus service.
ìBut to go and have a big bus that costs a lot of money to probably in the foreseeable future, I would think, is just going to be a one person at a time van. I don't really see the benefit in that,î Coun. Wade Bearchell said.
ìUnless we have a real plan that we can really put into place where it's going to need to be that large and we're going to be doing it ... in the community, I don't really see the cost benefit reasoning behind doing it.î
Wagstaff responded by saying that during its search, administration did not find a great increase in cost for larger vehicles.
A used passenger van, like the current Sunshine Bus, costs $61,000 and fits seven to 12 passengers with one wheelchair.
Upgrading to a passenger bus, which features a wheelchair lift, fits up to 15 passengers and two wheelchairs, would cost $67,000.
"I would agree with you at $130,000,î Wagstaff replied to Bearchell. ìThat's why we were looking for other alternatives.î
