Lloydminster City Council has approved the concept of a Transportation Access Program (TAP) in principle and directed Administration to develop a detailed proposal for future consideration.
The move follows the City’s ongoing review of transportation needs and options for improving access to reliable and affordable transportation throughout the community.
City officials say feedback gathered from residents showed stronger support for a flexible and targeted transportation solution rather than a traditional municipally operated public transit system, which would require significant investment and ongoing taxpayer funding.
Mayor Gerald Aalbers said the proposed approach would allow the City to address transportation challenges while remaining mindful of costs.
“A reliable transportation system is an important part of a strong, accessible community, but we also have a responsibility to balance those needs with what is affordable and sustainable for taxpayers,” Aalbers said. “A targeted, made-for-Lloydminster approach allows us to start where the need is greatest, learn from the experience and build on it over time if demand and resources support doing so.”
Administration to develop proposal
Council’s decision at it’s meeting on Monday, Oct. 5 does not mean the program has been approved for implementation. Instead, Administration will now develop a full proposal outlining how the program could operate, who it would serve and what the financial implications would be.
That proposal will return to a future regular council meeting, where councillors will decide whether to move forward with the initiative.
Focus on residents with biggest transport challenges
According to the City, the Transportation Access Program is being considered as the first phase of a broader strategy to address transportation barriers in Lloydminster.
Rather than introducing a fixed-route public transit system, the proposed program would initially focus on residents facing the most significant transportation challenges.
City officials say the phased approach would allow Lloydminster to respond to immediate transportation needs while continuing to evaluate community demand and the potential for future transportation services.
