HUMBOLDT — A study will look at transit services for Humboldt.
At a Sept. 12 special council meeting, Humboldt council voted to award Dillon Consulting a $41,000 plus tax contract to conduct the study.
Dillon Consulting will conduct a needs assessment/feasibility study, contact community organizations, residents and other stakeholders, and provide council with options for the city’s community transportation issues.
The study will be funded by a $50,000 grant received from the federal government’s Rural Transit Solutions Fund.
“The Rural Transit Solutions Fund seeks to help Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily day-to-day and connect with nearby communities,” said an overview posted on Infrastructure Canada’s website.
The federal government will provide $250 million over five years to the fund, which provides grants for studies and capital costs.
“From on-demand services, to publicly-owned ride shares, and volunteer community car-pooling, funding will help rural, remote, Northern and Indigenous communities and eligible organizations across Canada develop and offer new public transit options to their residents.”
Coun. Rob Muench said to council that Dillon Consulting has done similar studies for communities in and around Humboldt’s size, community that have had the same concerns about trying to fill gaps in taxi service, public transit and mobility van services.
“Out of the same concerns that we have, they've done studies on before.”
Michael Behiel, Humboldt’s mayor, asked what happens with the remainder of the grant. Joe Day, the city manager, said the grant didn’t have to be all be spent on the consulting service itself, it can be paid for other activities related to reviewing transit services.
