Two options to bring public transit to the Regina airport were presented to the Community and Protective Services Committee Thursday.
The first, and recommended option, would create a brand new route with service from downtown to the airport as well as adjacent businesses to Sandra Schmirler Way. The route would operate under a 30 minute frequency from 6-9 a.m. and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. That would change to a 45 minute frequency between 4 and 9 p.m.
Based on annual ridership of 60,000, the city projects the total annual operating costs for the first option to be $348,000. With a $100,000 contribution from the Regina Airport Authority (RAA) and projected annual revenue of $104,000, the city predicts the net cost of this option to be $144,000.
The second option would be an expansion of Route 8 (Normandy Heights/Eastview), the closest route to the airport.
With a projected annual ridership of 30,000, the city projects a total annual operating cost of $261,000 for option two. With the RAA contribution and a projected revenue of $52,000, the city predicts this option’s net cost to be $109,000 per year.
However, it was noted this option would be poor transit planning because it would add travel time to riders not going to the airport.
The Regina Airport Authority has indicated it would provide $100,000 in operating funding for a new route.
“We know that the city has a number of transit priorities,” said Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz. “We feel that by reducing the burden to the city in the first few years it’ll hopefully help them consider this as one of their transit options in the city.”
The RAA says they would also consider providing funding for concrete waiting pads along Sandra Schmirler Way should the city choose that route. Currently, there are no sidewalks along that stretch of road.
City council is set to review the report on June 24.
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