In November 2009, the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) collaboratively created the Calgary Regional Transit Plan. The short term objectives of this Plan were to build the transit market and transit use culture in the regional CRP communities by developing customer focused and integrated express bus services, local transit services, transit hubs/centres and transit-supportive land use initiatives.

   

The key components of the regional short-range transit plan are intended to be implemented in stages as funding becomes available over the next 5 to 6 years through the GreenTRIP Program and other senior government grants, transit fares, local property taxes and other local sources. Staging of the Plans components within each regional community will be based upon each individual community's examination of the feasibility of transit services from and within their community. If the services are deemed viable and approved by a community's municipal council, a transit implementation plan will need to be completed and a GreenTRIP Program application submitted to the Province to attain capital funding.  Transit feasibility studies are vital in defining the transit and land use frameworks in each of the regional municipalities and should be completed by municipalities in the early stages of planning for the GreenTRIP Program.

 

 

 

 

As part of Okotoks' progress towards local and intermunicipal transit services, Council authorized Administration to undertake a Transit Feasibility Study for our community at their June 13, 2010 regular Council meeting. The intent of the Okotoks Transit Feasibility Study is to assess the demand and viability of a both a local transit service and an inter-city express service to Calgary from Okotoks, as well as to identify the associated operational, financial and implementation requirements of both proposed transit services. Calgary Transit offered their expertise and consulting services to all regional municipalities for their transit feasibility studies and individual transit implementation plans. A key component of the Regional Transit Plan is the integration of inter-municipal bus services' into the Calgary Transit Service to allow for a seamless transfer for users between the different jurisdictions.

    

The scope of work for the study included a review of urban form and demographics, market analysis, generation of alternatives and recommendations, including capital and operating cost implications. The team hosted two public information sessions in Okotoks in June 2011, and made a project update presentation to Town Council in June 2011. Approximately 125 people attended the public information sessions and 128 survey responses were received from the sessions and through a transit survey provided on the Town website. The results from the surveys and information obtained through discussions at the Open Houses where included in the findings of the study.

 

Calgary Transit, in collaboration with Town Administration and the Calgary Regional Partnership Transit Committees, has completed Phase 1 of the Okotoks Transit Feasibility Study. The Phase 1 Report summarizes the Town's investigation of the feasibility of public transit in Okotoks. The Report investigates the following transit feasibility criteria:

Through analyzing the above noted criteria, the study team determined that public transit is feasible in Okotoks and that there is sufficient demand to support an intermunicipal transit service and a local transit service.

 

Town Council approved Phase 1 of the Town of Okotoks Transit Feasibility Study and authorized Administration to move forward with Phase 2 of the Town of Okotoks Transit Feasibility Study at the September 26th Town Council Meeting.

   

Phase 2 of the Transit Feasibiliy Study will address the following questions:

• When should the service operate? What days of the week and hours of the day should service be available?
• Who should plan, promotre, operate and maintain the transit system?
• What components of the system will be operated by the Town of contracted to the private sector?
• How much will the service cost and how will the operating costs be funded?
• How much revenue is the system expected to generate? fares? how revenue is collected?
• What type of vehicle and physical infrastructure is required? How will the vehicles and capital infrastructure costs be funded, operated and maintained?
• What is the level of community financial support for public transit?

Transit Feasibility Study Phase 1 Final Report (1 MB)

Okotoks Transit Feasibility Phase 1 Council Presentation (1 MB)