Cochrane and area residents will soon have another option for getting around, as the Town received a cash injection from the Province to provide public transit, Aug. 9.
The Town will receive up to $6.1 million in GreenTRIP funding to purchase four double-deck transit buses and four community shuttle buses, build a terminal and design a bus storage and maintenance facility.
The double-deck buses will provide transit service between Cochrane and Calgary and the shuttle buses will be used for transit service within Cochrane.
“This is an excellent project for the town of Cochrane,” said Premier Ed Stelmach, who was on hand at the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre to make the announcement. “One of the key reasons the Alberta government introduced the GreenTRIP program was to reduce traffic congestion and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the province. But as this public transit project in Cochrane demonstrates, GreenTRIP is also providing more transportation options for Albertans and improving traffic safety.”
Stelmach added that since he was elected, Alberta’s population has grown by 1.5 million people, and he expects that number to swell to four million in the next five years, making the need for public transit critical.
The Town of Cochrane has estimated the total cost of projects to be about $9.1 million. The premier’s announcement will help cover two-thirds of that cost, with the money being allocated as the Town progresses on the purchases, construction and design of its project.
“This municipality finally has the capital funding we need to move ahead with local and regional transit,” said Mayor Truper McBride. “Transit will revolutionize life in Cochrane.”
McBride said Cochrane was one of the first in the province to receive the funding announcement.
He also said the announcement will help fulfil a long-term goal. Transit will help alleviate urban sprawl, minimize operating costs and stimulate activity in the downtown core, he added.
“Transit is a key component of the Town of Cochrane’s economic development strategy as well as our sustainability plan,” said McBride, adding that transit was part of his 2007 mayoral election platform. “Responsible growth requires responsible transit systems. It is a huge leap forward for Cochrane. It is really about how we want to grow.”
GreenTRIP funding is a $2-billion program that provides one-time capital funding to support new and expanded public transit in Alberta. Applicants must contribute at least one-third of the capital cost of a project, with the government providing the balance.
The program will make $800 million available for transit projects in the Edmonton Capital region, $800 million in the Calgary region and $400 million for other municipalities.
