Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Free transit use approved for Downtown Street Fair

May 9, 2018 | 10:00 AM

Prince Albert residents will have the chance to ride the bus for free June 16 for the 15th-Annual Downtown Street Fair.

Council approved the free transit service Monday night. The move was supported by the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PADBID) to help continue the trend of increased attendance for the organization’s signature event.

“We know the use of the transit system in our community has been increasing over the past several years, and the city’s offering of free transit for residents in our community’s Downtown Street Fair day is just another innovative way to introduce and promote the transit system,” the group wrote in a letter to council.

City administration originally recommended denying the request, but Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp felt otherwise and argued it could be a good opportunity to promote public transportation.

Lennox-Zepp questioned what it would cost the city to offer the single free day. Administration said there were about 141 cash fares that day, ranging from children to seniors, meaning it would cost about $194 to offer the service for free over a single day. There were 671 total riders last year during the Street Fair.

“Let’s try this. Let’s make a change. Let’s try something new,” Lennox-Zepp said. “We have never done this for the Downtown Street Fair before. It only affects $194 in a big budget. It would be a nice item to add.”

The motion unanimously passed, on the condition city staff track the ridership and report the results.

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twiter: @JournoMarr