The BOLT Regional Transit System in Lacombe will no longer be operating after August 28th, 2020 but it’s not quite the end of BOLT. The Town of Blackfalds will continue providing public transit with an On-Demand Local Transit Service that will also carry the name 'BOLT'.

Town of Blackfalds Mayor, Richard Poole says public transportation was not a service the community was willing to give up yet. 

“Our town is made up a large number of younger families and persons. We feel they need to have the opportunity to utilize alternative transportation, if they don’t have that, to give them the opportunity to get into Red Deer,” explained Poole.

The new transportation system gives the town the freedom to expand the service.

“First of all, it will all be done through an app or phoning the BOLT line. People will be able to arrange for inter-municipal transportation within our community which wasn’t really available in the old system. It will also tie into the North end of the transit system in Red Deer,” said Poole.

The Pick-Up On-Demand App is available for download on Google Play and the Apple Store. The service will not pick passengers up at their houses but will utilize bus stops that have also expanded to other areas of the town.

“It will take people down to our new Blackfalds crossing stores. There’s a lot more opportunity throughout the community,” added Poole.

The new carrier service will feature one seven-passenger van with one wheel chair accessible seat and a lift. The service will begin on August 31st and will be free for all passengers until the end of September. In September, tickets and passes will be required.The transit system will be undergoing a two-year pilot program to ensure the service is made as efficient as possible.

Overall, the Mayor was very thankful for community partners who helped maintain a public transit system within Blackfalds.

“It’s disappointing that Lacombe has chosen not to move forward. We’ve had excellent cooperation with the City of Red Deer with both their town council and their transit staff. I would like to say thank you very much to their past service. Maybe in the future, we can look at the more regional aspect with the City of Red Deer,” said Poole.

For more information on the new BOLT, click here.