CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Mostly medical trips

Brooks launches campaign to continue Medicine Hat shuttle

Nov 5, 2020 | 10:55 AM

BROOKS, AB – The City of Brooks is turning to the community to support a shuttle service that makes it easier for residents to travel to Medicine Hat for medical and other appointments.

The city’s deputy chief administrative officer says there’s about $18,000 left from the initial grant funding of about $57,000 that created the Brooks Regional Transportation Service in February of 2019.

That money will take them until the end of the year.

“With the significant budget constraints that are facing municipalities right now, that’s why sponsors are being sought,” said Amanda Peterson.

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Brooks is looking to raise $40,000 by the end of December to cover the projected annual operating deficit for the service.

The current fare is $20 round-trip, but would rise to $40 if the service continues after December. The fee jump will also help cover the ongoing costs and was set after a survey of ridership.

Peterson says use of the service has been positive since it started and early on expanded from one day a week to three. It currently runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“It’s usually anywhere between two to seven individuals that use it on the days that run to Medicine Hat,” she said. “It’s consistently run since February 2019 and even ran through the pandemic as well.”

The majority of the trips are for medical appointments.

“Sometimes things they encounter as far as their appointments it’s not the best thing for them to drive back from Medicine Hat to Brooks due to maybe the type of treatment that they may receive,” said Peterson, mentioning dialysis, cancer treatments and maternity clinic visits as common reasons for users’ trips.

She added oftentimes riders don’t have family members they can rely on for transportation and new Canadians who’ve just come to the country and community often don’t have any transportation.

One potential source of funding is JBS Foods Canada, which last month announced it would provide $2 million to help Brooks bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in the community’s future.

Peterson says If JBS would like to contribute as a large corporate sponsor the city would love to have them but it is up to them how they want to administer that $2 million through their Hometown Strong Initiative.

You can donate in-person at the Brooks Municipal Office, by cheque or e-transfer. Visit brooks.ca or call 403-362-3333 for more details.