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By Jordan Parker

Transit manager talks innovative city bus plan

Nov 27, 2017 | 7:00 AM

Grande Prairie’s Transit Master Plan is set to bring innovation and increased ridership to the city’s bussing services.

Transit Manager Jason Henry detailed the highlights of the city’s plan to the Rotary Club luncheon Friday.

Included in the objectives are two new electric buses by March 2018.

“We’re seeing this throughout Alberta. St. Albert has electric buses, as will Edmonton and Calgary,” said Henry.

“The technology and battery technology has improved so much that northern cities can finally get into that electric bus game.”

Currently, there are between 50,000 and 60,000 fares a month, says Henry.

There are also plans for onsite solar panels at the bus depot, as well as a SMART card payment system and mobile ticketing.

“With technology, there’s always something emerging and something new. The beauty with transit technology is it’s not necessarily new,” he said.

“These new fare boxes would be hardware or software driven. It would be like updating your IPhone to the next software package. So when something new comes out, you slide a new module in.”

The plan is expected to be implemented over a decade, but changes to routes are already beginning.

On Friday, it was announced evening services for Sunday riders will be extended to 6:45 p.m. The changes go into effect December 3.

“Our service ends at 4 p.m. and we’ve heard some complaints from the public. We discussed how we can potentially expand that service,” he said.

“We’ve looked at some ways and we’re pretty hopeful in the new year we’ll have those additional hours on Sunday.”

The Transit Master Plan is set to grow and develop transit services within Grande Prairie as part of a long-term improvement strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Jordan Parker