New Transit Bus in Okotoks

Okotoks residents can hop on the bus starting today as the new on-demand curb-to-curb ride-sharing service begins December 2nd.

A brief ceremony celebrating the launch of the service was held at the Okotoks Council Chamber on November 29 and Mayor Bill Robertson was all smiles as he was one of the first to go for a ride on the new bus.

"This is very exciting for our community," said Mayor Bill Robertson. "Residents have consistently indicated that providing Okotoks with transit is a priority and we are thrilled to be able to offer this fantastic new service."

Okotoks Transit travels within the town boundaries and is designed as a customer-first service, increasing the ability for all residents to move more freely around town, including youth, seniors, those with disabilities, as well as residents who prefer not to use a personal vehicle. Booking the curb-to-curb transportation service can be done through the Okotoks Transit app, using the website or over the phone.

Currently, the service operates 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, 6:00 am to 11:30 pm, with rates at $2.75 one-way and children 0-5 able to ride free. For those who prefer not to pay online, paper tickets are available for purchase at various locations in Okotoks.

Robertson says they will evaluate the program for a year and then make adjustments as necessary.

"Once we have it up and running for a while we'll see where it needs to be tweaked," said Robertson.

The service is partly funded by the Provincial Green TRIP program, which contributed 67% of the capital expenditures related to the service.

David Gardner, Transit specialist says, "With growing traffic congestion and GHG emissions generated from single-occupancy vehicles, transit has become increasingly important to municipalities throughout North America."

"The on-demand service provides greater access to community amenities for all residents and can be more cost-effective than a traditional fixed-route system for small to medium-sized communities." explained Gardner.

Okotoks is the first community in Canada to offer a curb-to-curb on-demand transit system for the general public and it falls in line with the town Council’s commitment to providing residents with sustainable transportation options.