The service began Oct. 1, but a bus is yet to leave La Ronge at full capacity. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

passengers

Details of free public transport service worked out after first couple weeks of operations

Oct 17, 2022 | 5:12 PM

It’s been two weeks since a free transportation service began shuttling passengers between La Ronge and Prince Albert and specific details are now available.

“It feels like it is finally coming together,” said Ron Woytowich, executive director of the Kikinahk Friendship Centre. “It has taken a couple of weeks to figure out the schedule and what our actual costs are when it comes to fuel, and also the staffing issue. The one big thing is we still have to figure out some way of people in Prince Albert wanting to come here being able to get a hold of us. That’s the next thing we need to work on.”

The bus, which has a capacity of 14 people, operates Monday to Friday. It leaves Kikinahk at 9 a.m., stops in Air Ronge to pick up more passengers until 9:15 a.m. and it arrives in Prince Albert around noon. The bus leaves Prince Albert at 6 p.m. and arrives back in the tri-communities at about 8:30 p.m.

Those who would like to utilize the services should register by calling Kikinahk at 1-306-425-2051 during business hours.

“We have at least one person everyday,” Woytowich said, noting the bus has yet to leave La Ronge at full capacity.

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Woytowich added the bus also hasn’t used the Prince Albert bus terminal as originally planned as the low number of passengers has allowed them to drop people off directly at their destination.

“If we have 14 people on the bus, I think we would use the terminal more, but if we only have three people … he will drive them directly where they want to be dropped off,” he said. “Right now, we are providing a better service than we expected, but as more people know about it and as winter comes, I have a feeling we will end up using the terminal a lot more.”

Rides are free of charge, but if the bus is at capacity, who gets on is determined on a needs-based basis. That means people attending school and those needing to be at appointments would be prioritized over someone who wanted to go to Prince Albert to shop.

Woytowich mentioned anyone living in Prince Albert who wants to come to La Ronge to visit and then return later on the bus are eligible to do so and should contact Kikinahk for transportation.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno