Foothills residents had the opportunity to speak with members from the Calgary Regional Partnership about future public transit.

The open house held at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Thursday gave people a chance to give feedback and ask questions about the proposed On-It public transit system pilot project scheduled for fall 2016.

The system would connect Nanton, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, and Okotoks and travel as far north as the Somerset-Bridlewood LRT station in Calgary. Return trips would be made each night.

Ettore Iannacito, CRP transportation program manager, says On-It would help promote smart expansion for the area.

"What we want to do is address, as the region grows, where people are going to live, where will they work, is there enough water, and how will they move around," he says.

"Regional transit addresses the question of how will they move around and helps support smart growth principles."

Iannacito says the project is funded by the CRP up to a certain limit.

"In year three and four participating municipalities can keep it going through a cost-sharing formula," he says. "The beauty of that is Okotoks, for example, would not have to pay for the service on their own, it's being cost-shared among the other four municipalities and they're all in it for the long run if it's successful."

According to Iannacito, if the pilot project is doing well in year two, the levels of service could potentially be increased.

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com