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Feasibility of Public Transit in Camrose
Camrose City Council commissioned the Engineering Department to conduct a study on the feasibility of public transit within the City. To assist in this study, the Engineering Department retained the services of D.A. Watt Consulting Ltd.
DAW and the Engineering Department initiated their study in early June 2006. In order to conduct their study, DAW conducted extensive research on the City, including its demographics, the existing urban form and traffic patterns, as well as existing traffic services offered within the City (such as the Handi-van service and the taxi companies). Further to their document review, DAW hosted a meeting at the City of Camrose on July 5th with a diverse group of stakeholders – including such organizations as CDSS, the Camrose Senior's Coalition, Augustana, and the school division. This stakeholder's meeting allowed DAW to better understand the existing needs and resources within the City of Camrose, and helped guide their study towards arriving at a "made in Camrose" public transit solution.
Following the July 5th stakeholder meeting, DAW and the Engineering Department worked together to narrow down the potential transit options (scheduled bus service, shared-taxi service, dial-a-bus service) to 5 potential options. In the end, further analysis of the five options (looking specifically at such issues as cost / revenue ratios, community coverage, and overall customer convenience) resulted in the recommendation that the City of Camrose consider implementing a 2-bus, fixed-route transit system on a one year trial basis. Click to view the Final Report (9.5 MB), which was presented to City Council at the November 6, 2006, Regular Council Meeting. (Copies of the report are also available for temporary loan at the Camrose Public Library.)
The Engineering Department would like to thank D.A. Watt Consulting for their work on this project. Additionally, thank you to the many stakeholders who took part in the initial stakeholder's meeting, and assisted in the review of the draft report. Finally, the City would like to send out a special thank you to Clarence Hastings, Employment Barriers Task Force Coordinator with C.D.S.S., who assisted DAW and the Engineering Department throughout this study.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Jeremy Enarson at the City of Camrose Engineering Department.