The Town of Turner Valley is requesting another extension for government grants that would partially fund a park and ride facility, however council remains divided on the idea. In 2016, the Town learned it’s eligible for $450,000 from the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and provincial GreenTRIP (Transit Incentives Program) to build a park and ride facility, of which it must contribute $104,000. The funding was in support of the Calgary Regional Partnership’s On-It regional transit system that provided daily public transportation between four Foothills communities and Calgary, but the service ceased operation last spring. On-It was taken over by Southland Transportation, but stopped service in Black Diamond and Turner Valley later in the spring due to low ridership. An average of one rider a day was using the service in Turner Valley. “Our staff acknowledges there’ve been numerous changes since the plan was established,” Todd Sharpe, chief administrative officer, told council at its Oct. 1 meeting. Turner Valley previously received an extension to March 2019 to spend the money to build a park and ride at the Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool parking lot, a location selected by previous council. Sharpe suggested council request another extension as Black Diamond and Turner Valley committed funds for a transit feasibility study that will assess the needs for public transit in the two communities. Turner Valley paid $15,000 from its operating reserves last spring to support the estimated $90,000 study, which is partially government-funded. The study, which will involve a consultant specializing in transportation planning, a steering committee and public engagement opportunities, is expected to get underway this month and be ready to present to councils in the spring. Sharpe suggested council wait for the study results before making a decision on a park-and-ride facility. The proposal, which came before council in June, includes paved parking to accommodate 15-30 vehicles, a transit shelter at the Main Street bus stop, a washroom facility and about eight bus stop zones throughout town. Deputy Mayor Barry Crane said a park-and-ride facility is a waste of money. “We just had two full-out funded projects that failed,” he said. “Public transit didn’t work – the numbers clearly were not there. At this point, to me, we do not have the population base or the interest level to continue with putting public money into a transit system.” Crane said it’s urban municipalities like Okotoks and Calgary that benefit from government-backed transit projects. “When we look at the mileage for five to 10 maximum riders a week, it just doesn’t make sense environmentally,” he said. “You’re throwing good provincial dollars away for something that’s not going to benefit the population.” Crane said the Town’s request for an extension of the government grants will give council time to discuss the park-and-ride facility in the 2019 budget and allows for the completion of the transit study. While discussing the park and ride in June, Mayor Gary Rowntree said he struggled to see the need for it and expressed concerns about the cost of maintaining the washrooms, while Coun. Jonathan Gordon supported it, seeing it as an economic opportunity for Turner Valley and giving the community potential for public transit in the future. Coun. Lana Hamilton said she doesn’t want to see the door close on regional transit in Turner Valley.
