Elliot Lake’s transit system will get a complete review and overhaul following a provincial - federal funding announcement of $937,500.
Funding is divided between the city and two upper levels of government with Elliot Lake putting up $259,031 (26.67%), the federal government, $375,000 (40%) and the province $312,469 (33,33%).
The review project includes the entire Elliot Lake transit system including both conventional and specialized. The project will begin with the detailed review of existing transit routes and stops and provide a detailed design of a new route system and costs to implement the system to improve access for all transit users.
City public works director Daryl Halloch said city economic development officer Ashten Vlahovich was “instrumental” in the work securing the funding and in the review that will take place.
“Elliot Lake is one of the smaller municipalities that offers a full transit system, both conventional and specialized. The City has two conventional transit buses on the road six days a week currently running from 7am till 6pm but normally would run later on Thursday and Fridays (till 9pm – hours reduced to 6pm due to covid). There is a third conventional transit bus that is on standby in-case of breakdowns. The specialty transit system mirrors the hours of the conventional system—with one bus on the road everyday—that does direct pick-ups to resident’s homes which are scheduled in advance. There is also a second specialty bus on stand-by in-case of breakdowns and is rotated in and out of service. All five transit busses are accessible to the needs of passengers with walkers or in wheelchairs,” Halloch said.
City CAO Daniel Gagnon said the secured funding is from the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) Plan.
“The Municipality made an application to PTIS aimed at reviewing and improving overall accessibility and operations for a more reliable and higher quality service provided by the Elliot Lake Transit System,” Gagnon said in a news release. “The project involves detailed planning and design for existing transit routes/service and undertake a capital review that will provide new route development and schedules to meet community need as well as a capital plan to implement new routes/schedules.”
The Capital plan will include phased in purchases for fleet, on board equipment for tracking/accessibility, rehabilitation of existing stop structures for improved accessibility, and installation of new structures for new or existing stops on routes.
“All of these upgrades are to promote transit ridership numbers and make it a better experience for passenger,” Halloch added. “The funding money will help purchase new transit buses in the future, which have a five-year life span with the northern conditions”
It will include reviews of 140 existing stops, quality and accessibility of 25 existing shelters, specialized transit system including reservations, tracking and service delivery, and conventional service delivery.
“The expected outcomes are better service for community need including new maps, a comprehensive capital plan for scheduled rehabilitation of existing shelters, installation of new shelters estimated at between 25 and 50, the possibility of the purchase of five new vehicles to meet new route/demand, and tracking/reservation hardware/software.” Gagnon said.
The project will cost the city about $83,000 annually with money coming from the annual gas tax revenue and will not require any increase in taxes, according the Gagnon.