PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF COLD LAKE
Cold Lake Transit is being noticed as a big success in a small city.
The first successful note came from the feedback the City received from a transit survey conducted earlier in the year. Available online and as a hard copy, 127 surveys were completed and counted in the results.
“We got a really good response from the community,” said General Manager of Infrastructure Services Azam Khan. “There was a lot of good feedback and suggestions for the future as well.”
Results from the customer satisfaction survey where overwhelmingly positive. The main reasons riders took Cold Lake Transit varied, with the top three responses being: “Transit is less expensive than driving every day”; “Transit is environmentally friendly”; and “I do not own a vehicle”. Riders identified affordability, punctuality and the speed of service as their top priorities.
Cold Lake Transit is an affordable and environmentally friendly option that arrived when both the economy and the environment became timely subjects.
“It’s great to see people taking advantage of the transit system,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “It’s an important service that we’re happy to be able to provide. It gives people the chance to save money and reduce our community’s carbon footprint, so it’s an exciting option to have.”
A presentation on the Transit System and its implementation was a part of the recent Northern Area Ideas Group hosted in Cold Lake. Members of Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation also recently visited to listen to the reports of Cold Lake Transit’s success. And staff form the planning department will be delivering a presentation on Cold Lake Transit at the Community Planning Association of Alberta.
“We’re thrilled to see that there is an interest in our transit system,” said Copeland. “It really goes to show how well we’ve done with the implementation and running of the service, and how this community has taken ownership of the bus system.”
Cold Lake Transit continues to operate six days a week, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Recently, solar-powered shelters were put up in various locations, giving riders a dry place to wait for the bus.
“By using solar power, we’re able to cut down on our electricity costs while still allowing the shelters to be lit at night, providing a safer place for riders to wait,” explained Khan.
Cold Lake Transit continues to be offered as a free service. A fare for the service will be periodically reviewed by council. Information on routes and schedules can be found at www.coldlake.com.