In a 4-3 vote on Monday night, Lacombe city council decided not to pull out of the BOLT Regional Transit service.

Instead, council accepted the proposal from Burman University to increase ridership by offering a low-cost pass for each student and tweaking the schedule to fit their needs. The commitment is for three years.

As well, council endorsed the creation of a BOLT governance committee to discuss ways to improve ridership and cost recovery, and investigate alternative transit models.

Coun. Thalia Hibbs voted to keep the service, along with Jonathan Jacobson, Cora Hoekstra and Don Gullekson.

“Obviously I’m pleased. I knew it was going to be close but the result is what I was hoping for. (I’m) looking forward to the changes that we could possibly make. I really think this a service that’s worth saving and definitely can be improved,” Hibbs said afterwards.

Regional public transit started with the community’s desire to see service for those who had medical and service appointments in Red Deer, as well as for commuters, students, seniors and low-income residents.

According to Hibbs, many depend on BOLT and the impact of axing the service would have been drastic.

“For the people that I spoke to, it would be literally life-changing,” she said. “They would have to most likely pick up and move out of our community so it would be a very large impact on them if the service was discontinued.”

On the other side, Mayor Grant Creasey and councillors Reuben Konnik and Chris Ross voted for dissolution, all who have cited cost as the primary reason.

In 2017, BOLT’s expenses totalled $258,000 and generated $59,000 in revenue. The city paid just under $200,000 to subsidize the service.

“In my arguments, it’s primarily a financial one. We struggle with the resources that we have to do the best possible job we can for our community. And I just think those dollars could be spent more effectively,” said Creasey.

“Obviously it was felt by the majority of council that we had not fully explored options for the regional transit system and I respect their decision.”