The On-It transit program last year was considered a great success by both the towns of Canmore and Banff in getting visitors from the Calgary area to the Bow Valley, but with a change in ownership of the service, local governments are expecting to t
The On-It transit program last year was considered a great success by both the towns of Canmore and Banff in getting visitors from the Calgary area to the Bow Valley, but with a change in ownership of the service, local governments are expecting to tender the contract.
On-It regional transit was a function of the Calgary Regional Partnership and last year expanded its operations from a commuter service from communities like Cochrane and Okotoks to Calgary on weekdays to offering a weekend service to the Bow Valley with stops in Canmore and Banff.
But with CRP transitioning into a growth management board as a result of legislative direction from the provincial government, it was unclear what would happen to the bus service.
Southland Transportation had handled the operational side under contract and at the beginning of February the company announced it had acquired the service from CRP.
"I am absolutely thrilled On-It will become a legacy of the collaborative, innovative and entrepreneurial culture CRP has fostered over the past 14 years. While there have been many accomplishments at CRP, On-It is our biggest," stated CRP executive director Colleen Shepherd in a press release. "Regional transit is critical to the economic development of the Calgary Region.
"Southland was the logical successor to CRP given they operate the current On-It buses and are Western Canada's leading transportation provider."
Canmore and Banff withdrew their memberships from CRP two years ago in anticipation that the organization would transition into the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board, which becomes effective Feb. 28.
CRP negotiated the transfer of On-It as a service, brand and its collateral material to Southland, and the company indicated it hopes to work with Parks Canada, and the municipalities of Canmore and Banff, to continue to offer the service into the Bow Valley.
Adrian Field, director of engineering for the Town of Banff, said the On-It service on weekends and holidays brought 11,000 people to Canmore and Banff during summer months.
"We were super happy with the performance last year, we saw increased ridership as the season went on and we are hopeful to continue the service this year," Field said.
But the service won't automatically continue with Southland, as Field said the municipality intends to issue a request for proposals, or tender, for the service in 2018.
"We need to make sure that whoever offers this service is part of a competitive bid process," he said.
The process would set out pickup and drop off points, the frequency and type of bus requirements needed and the contract would be managed by the Bow Valley Regional Transit Services Commission, which operates Roam Transit.
"The objective is less cars and more choice for people to come to Banff without the use of their personal vehicle," Field said. "Any vehicles we can keep out of the centre of town is a very good thing for us, so we are heavily pushing transit in town, between Canmore and Banff, and within Canmore, throughout the national park and from Calgary to the valley.
"We see that the more you can get an integrated system to travel from point A to point B and beyond without your vehicle, the more chance there is for success."
The Town of Canmore spent $8,000 in 2017 for the On-It service, a price that was based on ridership numbers. For 2017, the budget included $17,500.
"Last year it was brought on last minute with very little advertising," said Canmore's general manager of municipal infrastructure Michael Fark. "We had great ridership even considering that and we expect this year with additional advertising and service that ridership should increase."
