LETHBRIDGE- A $12.3-million GreenTRIP grant was announced by the Alberta government Friday, which will pay for new city buses.
Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips said it’s the right plan for investment.
“Lethbridge successfully made the case that they needed new investments in transit and we are very pleased to be announcing that there will be the addition of some new buses and replacing of the old fleet.”
The new low-emission diesel-powered transit buses will create lower emissions and run more quietly, according to Mayor Spearman. Lethbridge Transit spokesperson Abby Slovack said the units getting replaced are nearing or past their 17 to 18-year life cycle.
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“Reliability is the biggest thing with transit,” said Slovack. “When you have breakdowns with older buses it definitely affects our customers, so having new infrastructure makes us reliable.”
In addition to purchasing the new buses, the city will also be spending $390,000 to add surveillance equipment to fix route buses as well as the para-transit buses.
“We want to ensure that our transit buses are a safe environment for our customers and for our drivers. So, installing this surveillance system will create that safe environment and help deter some of the crime and vandalism that can occur on transit,” added Slovack.
Over the next five years the funding will help replace 19 aging transit buses and 21 para-transit buses.
Alberta GreenTRIP will fund two thirds of the project, and the federal Gas Tax Fund will provide the rest, which is something Mayor Chris Spearman said taxpayers should be happy to hear.
“There’s really no cost for the capital to the local taxpayer, from local municipal taxpayers,” said Mayor Spearman. “Really, this is a bonus, and it’s going to enhance our fleet, enhance our services.”
Delivery of the first five buses and five new access-a-ride buses is expected by late 2016
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