By Leah Murray

More changes to the new transit system could be coming

Sep 5, 2017 | 10:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Less than 24 hours after the City of Medicine Hat’s new transit service started, City Council is looking to make some changes.

Councillors say they’ve all received feedback from the public on the new system. While some of the feedback has been positive, they say the majority have been complaints and concerns.

The city did apply the fair entry policy to transit to help fill gaps in service for low income individuals, but the change doesn’t seem to go far enough.

Councillor Julie Friesen admits there’s a gap in service for those who aren’t low income, but who still rely on transit and are no longer near a bus route.

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“Ordinary folks who need to access public transportation, really unless they’re close, have very limited if no options on the weekends.”

Friesen said the partial elimination of weekend service is one of the biggest problems she’s hearing from people.

“There’s real genuine concern that the weekend coverage is just not going to meet the public transportation needs of people as we had envisioned.” she said.

Councillor Friesen has now asked city staff to once again go back to the drawing board and try and find a solution. She admits whatever the solution is it will also likely eat away at the $625,000 savings the cuts to transit have made.

“[We’re asking staff to] look at what solutions might be there, and then come back to us with those and if it’s going to need a budget amendment, what would it be like?” said Friesen. “So, we’ll wait and see what happens.

There’s no word on when city staff will bring the proposals back to council for consideration, until then transit will continue to operate as is.