A Moment with the Mayor: Public Transportation Master Plan

Public transportation, often referred to as public transit, was a topic of discussion as City Council viewed the work completed so far on the Public Transportation Master Plan at the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023.

This is the first public information session since the consultant and City Administration started the project a year ago. The public response to the survey was excellent, with over 2,500 responses. The survey and extensive work behind the scenes have taken us to the next step, which is options development. These options are needed to help inform the second round of engagement as the project team begins to determine the service level of acceptance in the community and the feasibility of implementation.

At the GPC meeting, Council heard from Administration about the four options, which are now being presented to the community for public engagement in an effort to solicit input. Like the first phase, we again need your thoughts and ideas as we navigate Phase 2 as we dig deeper into these proposed levels of service options while trying to figure out what will best meet our city’s needs.

We need everyone to complete the new survey: those who completed the first one, and those who maybe didn’t get the opportunity. We value your opinion, and – if accepted by the community – we need to make sure that this service becomes one that meets our community’s needs and is supported by the majority of the city.

Over the past seven years, where I have served as mayor, I have engaged in many discussions with the community about public transit. Some have encouraged Council to act immediately, while others have varied opinions. We recognize the community’s desire for public transit and are trying to figure out the best way to meet that desire in a way that is fiscally responsible for all community members. I have also been made aware of the struggle for local businesses when employees are unable to easily access work due to distance and a lack of personal transportation options. Lakeland College students are another pocket of our community that would find transit beneficial.

The four options being proposed are:

1. An on-demand service where riders would request a ride from a dispatcher and meet the service vehicle at a virtual stop nearby.
2. A base level of service for a predetermined fixed route, costing the least to implement but has limited frequency and service area.
3. A medium level of service on a larger predetermined fixed route, striking a balance between cost and frequency/service area.
4. A high level of service on a predetermined fixed route, costing the most to implement but maximizes the frequency and service area.

Each option comes with a level of service and a projected impact on property ratepayers across the city. A decision has yet to be made, and more information is being collected during the second round of public engagement to ensure the community understands the potential impacts when compared to the desired level of service.

I encourage you to view the report and complete the survey at https://yourvoicelloyd.ca/ptm.

Thank you in advance for providing your input on this important issue.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster