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UPDATE: Premier Rachel Notley announces rural transit shuttle program for southern Alberta

Jul 25, 2018 | 11:29 AM

MEDICINE HAT — A new pilot project in southern Alberta will connect people in communities to new transit options.

Premier Rachel Notley announced Wednesday morning that a new rural shuttle program will be running along Highway 3 between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. The program, part of the Rural Transportation Pilot Project, will provide public transportation to more than 27,700 people in the region, according to a news release.

The total investment from the province is $700,000.

The bus would make stops in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, Seven Persons, Bow Island, Burdett, Grassy Lake, Purple Springs, Taber, Barnwell, Cranford, Coaldale and Lethbridge. 

Notley also announced $700,000 in funding for a project in Red Deer County to offer transit service between Red Deer, Springbrook, Penhold and Innisfail.

Similar projects have already been announced in Grande Prairie, Camrose and Spirit River.

According to the province, all of the services should be up and running by the end of this year. Buses between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat are expected to run two to three times per day, five days a week.

Fares will be determined as the operators of the services begin to set up. The goal is to ensure the routes are affordable and accessible to everyone. 

The City of Medicine Hat is now developing a Request for Proposal, to contract out the new pilot project. 

The province says given Greyhound’s decision to withdraw from western Canada, Alberta Transportation recognizes the urgent need to establish and maintain tgransportation options across the province – especially to and from rural areas.