Title
Transit Program Funding and Service Changes
Proposed Motions
1. That Council approve the expansion of transit service to include a connection from Spruce Grove to Acheson on Route 562 effective September 4, 2018 at an additional cost of approximately $11,000 in 2018 with funding from Public Transportation Utility Fee and Business Attraction Fund Restricted Surplus.
2. That Council move the Transit Service Program from a pilot project to a permanent core service.
3. That Council offset 50% of the Public Transportation Utility Fee with General Tax Revenue and approve the use of the Business Attraction Fund Restricted Surplus account in the amount of $300,000 in 2018, $200,000 in 2019, and $100,000 in 2020 to phase in the impact on taxation.
Body
Administration Recommendations
Administration supports the proposed motions.
Purpose
Transit service changes and allocation of Restricted Surplus funds must be authorized by Council.
Summary
Acheson Transit Service was initiated in 2016 as a pilot project with the intent to provide transit service to existing businesses and as a tool to attract new businesses to Acheson. The transit program is currently funded through a Public Transportation Utility fee charged to industrial zoned properties in Acheson. The success of the pilot project was to be measured on Business Satisfaction and Ridership. The feedback received from the businesses focused on three main areas:
1. Service improvements to the bus schedules should offer a trip earlier in the afternoon and a connection from Spruce Grove to Acheson;
2. The Utility fee is paid by all industrial properties but not all businesses are able to utilize the service they pay for and ridership is low; and
3. The businesses have requested a promotional incentive to increase ridership and encourage employees to try transit.
With the goal of moving the Transit Program out of a pilot project and into core services, Administration has identified actions to address these reques...
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