STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

Charter bus service possible for 2018 Stompede

Mar 13, 2018 | 2:07 PM

The city is looking at the idea of providing a charter bus service to and from the Grande Prairie Stompede this year. 

Assistant Transit Manager Steve Harvard says the service would pick up and drop people off during the four-day event. 

“The service that we are looking at providing is a 30-minute frequency between downtown and Evergreen Park during the operating hours of the Stompede,” said Harvard, following a presentation at a city committee meeting Tuesday morning. 

On top of parking issues at the event, Councillor Chris Thiessen brought up drinking and driving as another perk to implementing the service. 

“Because of the type of event, I think it was alluded to at the committee meeting, there will be a beer garden there. This will provide people an opportunity not to have to drive their vehicle and also avoid the headaches of trying to find a parking spot,” said Harvard. 

Although this would be a trial, Harvard says there could be opportunities for this to grow in the future. 

If city council approves the recommendation at their next meeting, transit service would be provided as a “Gift-in-Kind” from the city to the GP Stompede organization. 

In a report provided by city administration, the cost would be approximately $5,900 for the four-day trial.