Whitecourt Public Transit ridership has more than doubled, new features on the way

 

Whitecourt Public Transit has become an integral addition to the routine of many members of the community. In fact, the difference from 2016 to 2017 is substantial with more than double the passengers riding on the bus. In 2016, there was a total of 11,433 riders and by December of 2017 a total of 22,990 passengers had utilized the service.

In September of last year, peak times were during the morning, afternoon, and evening rushes which allowed riders to get where they needed to go even quicker. “At these times the bus stops every half an hour instead of every hour,” said Director of Community Services, Chelsea Grande. Peak times run from 6:30 to 9 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. “Youth are now taking the bus to school so that has really increased numbers. At the Percy Baxter stop there were 88 riders in 2016 compared to 214 in 2017. It is a large difference.”

Another location with high ridership is the new École St. Joseph School which saw 305 riders in just a few short months. “I think that has been a lifeline for students in that area,” said FCSS Manager, Sharon Shannon. The transit access is especially important for students who do not qualify for busing through the schools. For that reason, Whitecourt Transit offers a yearly student pass that runs from August until August for $275. “Students can use it to get to school, to leave and come back during spares, and to access activities after school or on the weekends.”

Being added this year is an app that will allow riders to see the movements of the buses in real-time. “Riders will be able to calculate how long it’s going to take them to get to their next stop and determine if there are any delays. It also allows us to send out mass communications,” she said. Search TransLoc Rider: Transit Tracking on the App Store or Play Store.

Along with the new stop at École St. Joseph School, the Allan & Jean Millar Centre and the Whitecourt Library are second and third in the list for most popular stops in 2017. Also popular are Spruce View Lodge, IGA, the Scott Safety Centre, 47 Street/51 Avenue, and the Walmart Shopping Centre stops.

Not only are the buses fully accessible with plenty of room for wheelchairs but they have WIFI and a front-end bike rack. This spring they will even have books. “ParentLink has been developing a Books on the Bus program because we know for some it can be a longer trek. We want to provide them with an opportunity to catch up on some reading,” explained Shannon. Parents with young children will find it handy having something to entertain their youngsters while they travel, too.

Another round of funding is also helping to bring in seven more benches and five more shelters which will give riders a comfortable wait. They will be popping up a bit later in the year, but riders can expect new shelters at the Walmart stop, Spruce View Lodge, AJMC, École St. Joseph School and 47 Street/Trading Post Trail.

This summer Whitecourt Public Transit and the AJMC are teaming up to offer a combo pack of services for children and students. This includes post secondary students, as well. “The price includes transit service and a pass to the AJMC for the months of May, June, July, and August. We really want people to be out and active during the summer months,” said Grande.

One ticket to ride is $3 and there are packages you can purchase to save money on multiple tickets. Youth groups are $1 per passenger and that would include a school function where a class is going somewhere together. Another bonus is the transfer ticket. “Say you’re going to IGA to do your grocery shopping, before jumping off at the store, request a transfer ticket, then within an hour and a half you can get back on the bus using that transfer ticket without extra cost. One transfer per trip.” explained Shannon. Tickets are available at the AJMC, IGA, and the town office.

“We’re so excited that community members are onboard with transit and have been utilizing the transit system because it is for everyone. Whether you are trying to be environmentally responsible, whether you are just wanting a low-cost option for transportation, or whether you want to have some more independence, it’s an option for everyone. We really hope it continues to increase throughout the years as Whitecourt grows,” said Grande. Ride on, Whitecourt!