REGINA – Regina city council has approved a plan that aims to improve several elements of public transit downtown.
One aim is to reduce traffic on 11th Avenue, one of downtown Regina’s busiest roads. The downtown transportation study recommends as designing a transit hub to be located on Lorne Street, between 11th Ave. and 12th Ave.
In other cities, similar facilities allow buses to sit in a queue – rather than stop on a main road – while also improving the transit rider experience, according to the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID).
Get breaking National news
“(People can) wait in the warmth and access a restroom, coffee shop or newspaper stand. There might be chairs in there so they can sit down,” said Judith Veresuk, RDBID executive director. Then when their bus comes, they pop out into the bus bay area and get on their bus.”
Eastbound bus stops on 11th Ave. will be relocated from in front of Old City Hall Mall to the block between Lorne Street and Cornwall Street. That stop had been the subject of complaints from business owners due to transit users loitering inside the building.
At one point, council had considered a transit shuttle service for the downtown area. According to mayor Michael Fougere, that would be cost-prohibitive right now – but may be implemented in the next few years.
“When we have the new stadium built, a shuttle service from downtown would be feasible. That way you could integrate a shuttle service all throughout downtown to the stadium and back,” Fougere said.
Fougere adds that initiatives such as bus stop relocation will happen right away.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.