Following a review of the first year of Fixed-Route transit, Okotoks Town Council approved expanding route coverage along Milligan Drive, east of 32 Street, to bring service closer to residents in Drake Landing, Ranchers Rise and Air Ranch. The expansion can be made within the Town’s existing transit budget.
The route extension responds to requests residents shared during engagement before Fixed-Route service launched in 2025. A year of service data and route testing confirmed the change can be made using existing resources, with little impact to travel times and no reduction to the current service level. The extension will include eight stops along this stretch of Milligan Drive and will be in place by June 30, 2027.
“We want people to stay connected to the places and people that matter to them, whether that’s getting to work, making an appointment or spending time with friends,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Bringing transit to more neighbourhoods supports Council's commitment to a connected community in the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan.”
The one-year review considered ridership, service performance, resources and community feedback to understand how transit is working and where changes could help as Okotoks grows. From August 31 to September 16, 2026, the Town asked residents about their experience with Fixed-Route transit and priorities for future improvements. The engagement gathered a range of community perspectives, including input from transit customers and non-users, including 291 survey responses and conversations with 122 community members at four pop-up events.
Among survey respondents, Saturday service was the top-ranked choice for expanded service hours, followed by later weekday service. Nearly two-thirds (62.6%) said weekday service would be most useful until 9 p.m. or later. Service frequency was a key challenge to using Fixed-Route transit among both Fixed-Route and On-Demand customers. Schedule timing and stop locations were also common barriers across both groups.
“Residents told us that when buses run and how often they come can make a big difference in whether transit works for them,” said Cassidy Stillie, environmental specialist. “This feedback, along with ridership and service data, will help Council consider where future improvements could make the most difference.”
Drawing on these findings and the service review, Council could consider further transit improvements during November budget deliberations. These include earlier weekday service, Saturday service, evening service, late-evening weekday service, and buses every 30 minutes during peak travel times or throughout the service day. Unlike the route extension, these options would require added funding and have not been approved.
On-Demand transit service will not change and will continue alongside Fixed-Route service, offering flexible travel across the community. Fixed-Route buses run on set routes and schedules, with no need to book ahead.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and ideas. The What We Learned report summarizes community feedback and how it is informing future transit planning.
View the report and project updates, visit ShapeOurTown.Okotoks.ca. For current routes, schedules and fares, visit The Transit section of our website.
Fixed-Route Expansion into Drake Landing, Ranchers Rise, and Air Ranch
Bringing transit to more neighbourhoods supports Council's commitment to a connected community in the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan.