City to collect public input on Transit Master Plan at Monday meeting
Local residents will have an opportunity to speak on what they would like to see for the City’s transit system next week.
A Transit Master Plan Community Issues Committee meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday at city hall.
“The Transit Master Plan is a significant issue which affects a wide number of people in the city,” said Mayor Chris Spearman.
“We refer the plan to the (CIC) so we can get input from the public and input from people who are directly affected by the recommendations in the Transit Master Plan.”
A debate has been ongoing in the city as to whether transit users would be better served by more direct transit services, or whether more comprehensive services are needed.
“Those are two diametrically opposing points of view,” Spearman said. “The people who want to get places more quickly are prepared to walk further to a bus stop. So they could get on at a main road and take a quick bus downtown or to the university or college.
“Others, who might be less mobile, are concerned about walking more than two or three blocks to a bus stop.”
The Transit Master Plan has been a work in progress for the City. Consultations during the development of the plan revealed transit users are seeking a more simple, user-friendly system with more direct routes.
The plan recommends fundamental changes to the system to make it an attractive and viable option.
Among those recommendations are the creation of a layered transit network with high-frequency routes on major east-west and north-south corridors for major destinations.
Other recommendations include establishment of lower-frequency local and community routes which would allow riders to transfer to the high-frequency routes.
Spearman asked anyone interested in speaking at the meeting to contact the City Clerk’s office and register ahead of time.
“We want to hear from people who use Lethbridge transit on a regular basis,” he said. “We want to get everyone’s point of view. It’s really important that city council hear from transit users.”
Transit is the only form of transportation for many local residents who rely on it to get to work, access services, such as medical appointments. The service is heavily subsidized by tax dollars.
“We have to recognize not everyone can afford a car, and that people are relying on the transit system to do everything they do in their daily lives,” he said.
Spearman also said greater efficiencies and service could make transit an option for those seeking to help curb pollution and congestion caused by cars on the road.
“We’re trying to reduce our carbon footprint in the city,” he said. “So if more people use transit, it alleviates problems with downtown parking, for example, or can ensure we have fewer issues with traffic.”