Transit officially back to old ways
Riders rejoice as old routes returned to city streets Monday following three months in a system that brought countless complaints
Medicine Hat’s bus routes returned to familiar form on Monday, about 12 weeks after a new system was installed then switched back after protests from riders.
Previous routes were up and running, reported transit officials, with few or any problems.
“I felt like giving the driver a Christmas card,” said Noreen Sitwell while she waited to transfer at the downtown terminal in the afternoon.
“People don’t realize how difficult it is getting around when you’re a senior without a car.”
Like many bus riders, Sitwell says she didn’t see the reasoning behind changes
However, while city’s elected representatives say some “period of stability” is required, others and city staffers say there is still appetite to cut costs or increase revenue in the heavily subsidized transit department.
“We’re back to the old system as of this morning,” said Howard Snodgrass, manager of community development.
“Our focus has been to divert back to the old system, and as of this morning that’s completed. Now we’ll be developing standards to say ‘this is how the new model will operate,’ and we’ll present that to council, and we’ll find efficiencies.”
Those standards could comprise distances between stops, possibly ridership levels.
“We don’t know the (standards) yet,” said Snodgrass. But other centres measures passengers per hour — sort of ridership metrics.”
That work will include new ridership data gleaned from an upcoming electronic farebox system and other methods.
Mayor Ted Clugston told reporters after a council vote on Nov. 20 to return money to the 2018 budget to pay for the reversal, that he would favour a “use it or lose it” model.
Routes could see reduced scheduling or perhaps be eliminated entirely if they fall below certain ridership levels.
Next week marks one year after council approved a review of transit operations as part of a general cost containment program for operational spending.
The system unveiled in early September featured no central hub, but two main routes and redrawn feeders that made connections at various points. With no evening or weekend service outside major routes, riders complained they were cut off from employment, shopping and generally getting around the city.
Council discussed the issue in early September but administrators stated the reduced hours accounted for the bulk of a $650,000 savings.
Eventually, a 6-3 council vote directed staff to reintroduce old routes while seeking out savings behind the scenes.
Coun. Julie Friesen, head of the public service committee, which oversees the transit department, said what’s needed now it stability, though transit planners will begin studying a new set of changes to go to council for approval.
“The spirit of the motion was to go back and find stronger long-term solutions,” she said Monday.
“That’s not in the short-term future. I want to stress that we’re not going to be tinkering. This is going to be stable for a while. I’m very aware how confusing this was for the public. It’s important that we stay with a stable system for a while.”