Page 3
Ther
e
is
a
r
eason
New routes, more hours
SERVICE
is
part
of
for Medicine Hat Transit
our
name!

Amanda Stephenson
astephenson@medicinehatnews.com

City transit users are making good use of the new off-peak service implemented as
part of a series of recent changes to Medicine Hat Transit.
Serving Medicine Hat for over 35 Years!
In October, Medicine Hat Transit began offering eight fixed bus routes on weekday
evenings, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. The fixed route system replaced the
previous Dial-A-Ride system, through which residents could phone for a bus during off
hours. In addition, the city began offering bus service on all holidays except Christmas
Day and Good Friday.
FULL MECHANICAL SERVICE
“For the most part, it’s been going reasonably well,” says Medicine Hat Transit manager
Richard Sieppert of the changes. “Our ridership numbers are really good.”
ALIGNMENTS
On Boxing Day, for example, Sieppert says close to 900 people rode the bus, while about
700 people have been taking the bus on an average Sunday since the implementation
EXHAUSTS
of the fixed route system.
Those are excellent numbers, Sieppert says, adding Lethbridge has had established
Sunday service for many years. In spite of its larger population, Lethbridge’s Sunday
TIRES
service only registers about 1,000 riders per day.
On March 5, Medicine Hat Transit added a new route for the Southlands Crossing area
and in August, two more peak service routes will be added. Bus schedule hours will
also be extended. Because of the age of some of the city’s buses and because extended
routes and hours put more of a strain on equipment, Medicine Hat Transit will be
WE HAVE...
purchasing 10 new buses between February and August of this year.
Sieppert says the revamping of Medicine Hat Transit has two goals — to improve
• Maremont Exhaust Parts
service for current transit users, and to attract new riders.
(Lifetime Warranty Available) Medicine Hat still has a ways to go when it comes to the use of public transit — in 2008,
• Custom Pipe Bending
according to the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta’s
Vital Signs report, only 1.9 per cent of the population currently rode the bus to work.
• 2 & 4 Wheel Alignments
“It’s improving, but some things could definitely be better here,” Sieppert says. “Part
• Insurance & Government
of the problem that we face is just the size of the city — you can get anywhere in your
Inspections
own vehicle within 10 minutes.”
Through a marketing and public relations campaign, Medicine Hat Transit plans to
keep spreading the word about its recent changes and the benefits of taking the bus
— whether you ride because you don’t have a car, or you simply want to do your part
for the environment.
“And part of it too is
asking people to be patient
40245495•03/24/09
as we make our changes,
because there are always
Free
Estimates
little things to be worked
out,” Sieppert says.
and
Best
in
Rates
the
City!
NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT
Duane Scharfenberg
Riders in Medicine Hat are making good use of the new off-peak service implemented as
Owner/Manager
part of a series of recent changes to Medicine Hat Transit, which is set to accomplish two
goals in 2009 — to improve service for current transit users and to attract new riders.
According to the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta’s Vital
770 - 17TH ST. S.W. MEDICINE HAT 403-527-7862
Signs report, only 1.9 per cent of the population currently ride the bus to work.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71