Canmore’s proposed 2016 operating and capital budgets include money to establish local transit in the community next year.
While exact details of new local Roam routes for Canmore have not yet been presented to council by the Bow Valley Regional Transit Commission, the dollar amounts included in the budgets reflects what is in the feasibility study.
“The transit commission has a feasibility study it will bring to council,” said Chief Administrative Officer Lisa de Soto. “That process is paralleling this budget process. We are referencing (in the budget) very much what the commission is proposing.”
Canmore’s elected officials will vote on whether to approve transit separate of the budget, however, operational and capital considerations were built into it. That includes a $200,000 contribution to the transit commission for operational costs, $50,000 in increased operational costs to municipal departments and $80,000 in increased operating costs associated with regional Roam service enhancement proposed for next year.
There is also $923,000 in the capital budget for the service and two-thirds of that amount has been funded through the provincial Green Trip program. If council approves transit, buses can be ordered immediately and delivered in time for a September, 2016 startup.
“Starting a new program does not mean you don’t have costs leading up to it,” de Soto told council. “We will definitely incur costs throughout the year leading up to the September start up date.”
The streets and roads department, for example, would be required to install bus stops throughout town. General manager of municipal infrastructure Michael Fark said that is part of the reason administration is asking for a 0.5 full time equivalent addition.
While a glimpse into the costs of local transit are provided by the draft budget, Councillor Sean Krausert, who is also chair of the transit commission, said the numbers are incomplete and don’t include things like revenue generated by the service.
