Lethbridge Transit
{{Short description|Public transportation system in Alberta, Canada}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2020}}{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Lethbridge Transit
| logo = Lethbridge Transit Logo (2021).svg
| logo_size =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| company_slogan = Come Ride with Us
| parent =
| founded = {{date and age|1912}}
| headquarters = 619 4 Avenue North
| locale = Lethbridge, Alberta
| service_area =
| service_type = Public transit
| alliance =
| routes = 13
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations = 11
| lounge =
| fleet = 42
| ridership = 3000 per day {{cite web |title=Annual Report Highlights |url=https://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Financial-Documents/Pages/Annual-Report-Highlights.aspx |publisher=City of Lethbridge |access-date=28 May 2022}}
| annual_ridership =
| fuel_type = Diesel, Diesel Hybrid
| operator =
| ceo =
| website = [http://www.lethbridge.ca/transit City Transit Dept.]
}}
Lethbridge Transit manages and operates the municipally-owned public transportation system in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
History
File:Lethbridge Transit Logo (old).svg
Public transit in Lethbridge began in 1912 and consisted of a streetcar system operated by the Lethbridge Municipal Railway. The system consisted of three lines, all originating at the southwest corner of what is now Galt Gardens. One line ran to north Lethbridge, one to the exhibition grounds via 6 Avenue, and the third to St. Michael's Hospital via 13 Street. Each car was operated by two men until 1917, when the number was reduced to a single operator on each. At the height of its operations, the streetcar system ran 10 cars over a total of 10 miles of track.
Given the cost of laying new tracks to accommodate city growth, the city began introducing motor buses in 1941. By 1947, the streetcar system had been abandoned, with the North Lethbridge line being the last to operate.
Operations
File:Lethbridge Transit downtown.jpg
The public transportation system Lethbridge Transit consists of 42 buses (with an average age of 8 years) — including 8 Euro-styled New Flyers put in operation in August 2006 — that cover most of the city on 13 routes. Traditionally, all bus routes in the city started and ended downtown. In the early 21st century, however, cross-town and shuttle routes were introduced. All routes use wheelchair-accessible buses.
In 2005, Lethbridge Transit had an annual ridership of 2,555,695 on over 25 buses.[http://www.lethbridge.ca/NR/rdonlyres/47B1163B-AD97-4EB1-ACD0-9D32ECE83794/8637/1agenda20070924CIC.pdf City Council Meeting minutes]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 24 September 2007 Expenses for the same year amounted to $6,023,794 with revenues at $2,243,222.
Recent projects
In 2006, Lethbridge Transit explored the possibility of a universal bus pass system for post-secondary students in Lethbridge. While University of Lethbridge undergraduate students voted against the system, graduate students voted in favour. Lethbridge Transit and the Graduate Students Association negotiated a U-Pass system for master's and PhD students effective September 2008. A separate U-Pass system for undergraduate students was launched in 2018.{{Cite web|last=Goulet|first=Justin|title=City celebrates grand opening of new Park ‘n’ Ride Transit Terminal|url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/09/06/city-celebrates-grand-opening-of-new-park-n-ride-transit-terminal/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Lethbridge News Now|language=en}}
In June 2011, Lethbridge city council authorized the introduction of an electronic fare card to replace the previous fare system.[http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/electronic-fare-card.aspx Electronic Fare Card], 29 June 2011
In August 2021, Lethbridge implemented a revamp of routes and operations, called cityLINK. The revamp would allow citizens to request a bus on demand in areas with no service. The city has estimated that CityLink will be able to save $350,000 annually. The revamp increased on-time performance and increased daily ridership by 30%.
Routes
| class="wikitable" |
| Number
! Name ! Service Between ! Service Days |
|---|
| 1
| cityLINK Gold | West Highlands > Sherring | 7 days |
| 2
| cityLINK Blue | Sunridge > Southgate | 7 days |
| 3
| cityLINK Green | Southgate > Sherring | 7 days |
| 4
| cityLINK Orange | ATB Centre > WT Hill | 7 days |
| 51
| Red Crow | University > West Highlands | Mon-Sat |
| 52
| Columbia | University > Sunridge | Mon-Sat |
| 53
| McGill | University > ATB Centre | Mon-Sat |
| 60A
| Stafford Dr | City Centre > Uplands > Sherring | Mon-Fri |
| 60B
| Stafford Dr | City Centre > Winston Churchill > Sherring | Mon-Fri |
| 60C
| Stafford Dr | City Centre > Winston Churchill > Sherring | 7 days |
| 61A
| 5 Ave N | City Centre > 28 St N > Sherring | Mon-Fri |
| 61B
| 5 Ave N | City Centre > Industrial > Sherring | Mon-Fri |
| 62
| 13 St S | City Centre > College | Mon-Fri |
See also
{{Portal|Transport}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Lethbridge Transit}}
- [http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/default.aspx Lethbridge Transit homepage]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120412053854/http://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Documents/Oct%205,%202011%20Ride%20Guide.pdf Riders Guide]
{{clr}}
{{Public transit systems in Canada}}
Category:Transport in Lethbridge
Category:Bus transport in Alberta
Category:Transit agencies in Alberta