Travelling in Central Alberta has become easier with the launch of the new 2A South Regional Transit service. Together, the mayors and representatives of involved communities cut the ribbon to celebrate the transit connection.

The new bus route connects the communities of Innisfail, Penhold, and Springbrook to Red Deer. In honour of the new bus route, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on January 14th at the Bower Mall bus stop.

It’s been two years of discussions about the bus routes and connecting Red Deer and smaller communities. Discussions turned into action because of extra funding from the government of Alberta.

“Capital dollars have always come forward for projects but it’s the operating dollars that’s the critical piece that has been missing. The government came forward with this pilot project and said ‘okay we will fund it for two years’. Two years is a good time frame because then you can increase ridership, you can grow ridership, and you can see whether or not if the service will continue forward,” said George Penny, Manager for Red Deer Transit adding, “It’s been a great collaboration between all the communities to get it to happen.”

For the city of Red Deer Mayor, Tara Veer the extension of the transit system has been an ongoing project with the northerly connection with Lacombe and Blackfalds.

“A couple of years ago we expanded our city bus routes to become a regional transit system and we went north to Blackfalds and Lacombe and celebrated that. Today we celebrate going to Penhold and Innisfail, extending the line to the south, and partnering with those communities as well.”

Veer believes the expansion of the transit system is necessary because, “People don’t live, work, and recreate within borders.”

Jim Romaine, the mayor of Innisfail was a passenger on the first bus to Red Deer and thinks it will be great for students.

“We see the potential for post-secondary kids in our community having the opportunity to come to the city of Red Deer or the Red Deer college. There’s even opportunity for high schools as well,” said Romaine continuing, “When it was proposed to us it was an exciting thing.”

The changes to the bus routes have proven to connect the community through the planning stages of the project and hopefully will continue to do so through its passengers.