Prince Albert moves to secure new transit buses in long-term contract 

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In 2022, the city partnered with First Bus ULC to lease buses as a short-term solution, a step that improved service reliability through 2023 and 2024. 

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Community Safety and Well-being Manager Anna Dinsdale said the department needs time to review the entire transit system and the contract with First Bus gives them that time.  

“This is an interim position. As you know, we’ve come out of a very difficult time with transit. We’re not in a position right now to purchase our own or to build that infrastructure, so that will help us there,” she said.  

This year, the department will take proposals for a broader review of the transit system, including routes, bus stops and shelters in order to create a long term operating model.   

Any savings in the 2026 transit operating budget to the Public Transit Reserve will be used to help offset higher costs expected in 2027. 

The temporary fleet is now nearing the end of its service life, and reliability dropped again in 2025 and 2026.  

Administration said renewing and amending the current agreement is the fastest way to secure replacement buses and avoid further service disruptions while the city works on a longer-term transit strategy. 

Under the proposed contract, First Bus ULC would purchase 11 new 35-foot low-floor accessible diesel buses. The buses are expected to begin arriving in early 2027. The agreement also includes a 3 per cent annual increase in hourly rates and an increase in minimum annual service hours, which would allow for extended Saturday transit service. 

The financial impact will be significant. Administration estimates the transit budget will rise from about $2.62 million in 2026 to about $3.87 million in 2027, an increase of roughly $1.25 million tied to the new contract, expanded service hours, fuel and cleaning costs. After that, projected annual increases are expected to follow a more stable pattern. 

Council approved the contract with only Councillors Bryce Laewetz and Dan Brown opposed, who did so based on the costs.  

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com