Financial boost for transit projects in Alberta from Ottawa, provincial government

The federal and provincial governments announced a funding boost Wednesday for transit projects in Alberta.

The two levels of government announced the more than $730,000 total in funding ($315,000 from the federal government, and $317,000 from the provincial government) to go towards six new transit projects in Alberta.

Three of those projects are in Leduc, including the purchase of a specialized transit bus, concrete pads for bus stops and waste receptacles – garbage and recycling bins at bus stops.

Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke said the investment marks big changes for a city that has only had public transit since 2014.

“Right now, it’s only a peak service, Monday through Friday, mornings and afternoons and we hope to expand that in the future,” Krischke said. “We are also looking at providing early morning to late evening service to the Edmonton International Airport.”

The purchased of the specialized bus will bring Leduc’s bus fleet to 15 vehicles; the new addition is expected in the fall.

The funding will also go towards transit projects in Spruce Grove, Airdrie, and Lake Louise/Banff.

Spruce Grove will also purchase a new bus.

With files from Amanda Anderson

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  Leduc Transit officials showed a bus, similar to one purchased with money from an investment by the federal and provincial governments on Wednesday, July 5. The new bus is expected to join their fleet in the fall of 2017.