Exactly what the future holds for local transit has been put on hold until the 2025 budget deliberations of town council.
At its Oct. 15 meeting, council declined to give the greenlight to developing a detailed transit service design and a 2025 implementation plan based on a contracted 64-hour weekday service. In a 4-2 vote, the majority of councillors want to first understand where the funding fits into the overall draft budget. The draft budget isn't scheduled to be presented to council until Oct. 21.
In 2025, the plan recommended is expected to cost the town $1,222,272 compared to the current expenditures of about $850,000.
Is implemented, estimated revenue is $96,700 for 2025. A survey on transit indicates 71 per cent of respondents support a modest increase in property taxes and fares. By modest, the report uses the example of $5 per property in taxes and $1 more per trip from the current rate of $2.50 per ride (there are discounts offered for monthly passes and ticket packs).
In addition to the on-demand service, for the first time it calls for the establishment of three fixed routes:
- Connection 1: Sunset Ridge through Downtown to SLS Centre
- Connection 2: Heritage Hills through Heartland to Downtown.
- Connection 3: Fireside through Riversong to SLS Centre and Downtown. This would integrate with Connection 2 in Downtown
For Councillor Alex Reed, it wasn't a thumbs down to the value of having transit, rather he considers the request premature and out of step with the entire budgetary process.
"For example, we were at a meeting the other night and there was an indication that there may be an additional request for several more staff," Reed said. "Well, this and that are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of where we end up with the tax rate."
"I think it just has to be part of the budget process. I think we're not doing a disservice to our community. It's no worse than what it is, and yes, I wanted to get better soon, but not at any cost."
Councillors Marni Fedeyko, Morgan Nagel and Tara McFadden agreed to hold off.
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Mayor Jeff Genung says the town had studied the transit system for far too long and now is the time to act.
"I'm not in favor of continuing with the sputtering service that isn't meeting the needs of our residents," said Mayor Genung. "I'd rather take it away, then, and I don't think that's the right option, either."
"This is what I think frustrates me the most is we've waited long enough. We've taken a good hard long look at this, we have professionals giving us their advice, we need to actually do something with it."
Councillor Susan Flowers says people who rely upon the service deserve an answer.
"I feel like the people that are being held hostage are those who need the service and they can't get it, and it's taking so long. I think we're holding them hostage. They want to get to work and get around town and have a dependable service,"
Councillor Nagel says it was unlikely he would "plug his nose and vote for a large tax increase for transit."
"But if I did, I'd want to know for sure it was a really good transit system and it's going to work," he said. "If we're going to hike taxes on Cochrane residents, it better not result in Colt buses driving around with one or two people in it."
Proclaiming himself a skeptic of on-demand transit, Nagel said he believes a full-on fixed route system is more effective and is interested in knowing what that would cost.
"I feel like we're overcomplicating this. It's going to be confusing user experience when people are trying to figure out to go on a fixed route bus or an on demand bus, and then you're going to have these lazy people who just don't want to walk to the fixed route stop, and they're going to try using the on-demand service when really they can just walk 150 metres and that's going to be clashing with somebody who actually needs the on-demand service."
Town administration will be releasing the 2025 budget draft on Oct. 21. Public engagement sessions are planned for Oct. 25 and 26 at the SLS Centre.