Jasper Transit exceeded ridership projections last year by 41 per cent, according to a recent update to council on Tuesday (March 11).
On average, the transit system served 11.7 riders per hour in 2024, exceeding the 8.3 riders per hour forecasted in Jasper’s transportation strategy and action plan.
“That is remarkable and so much better than expected, and yet we approved it anticipating 41 per cent less than we have achieved,” said Mayor Richard Ireland. “It's quite a remarkable number, even though the numbers are small, as a percentage it’s enormous.”
In total, Jasper Transit provided 35,764 rides and 3,050.4 hours of transit service last year.
Coun. Kathleen Waxer echoed the mayor’s comments on transit.
“Given some of the talk in our housing strategy around reduced parking and things like that, I think that the concept of transit and its value to the community will only grow and strengthen as time goes on,” Waxer said.
Jasper’s transit system first launched in September 2023 and provides fixed-route service to the public as well as school bus service in partnership with Grande Yellowhead Public School Division and Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord.
Following the wildfire evacuation and re-entry into Jasper, the transit system relaunched on Sept. 17, in step with the first day of school, and has been operating on a recovery schedule.
CAO Bill Given told council this winter remained consistent with last winter’s transit ridership, though there were more fixed-route riders and fewer school riders. He attributed the slight decline in school ridership to the wildfire displacing families.
“It is sort of small amounts, but there were more fixed-route riders – so general transit riders this winter – than there were last winter, so I think that’s a positive indicator,” he added.
For the recovery schedule, schedule adherence started at 85 per cent in October. According to administration, on-time performance issues were occurring on the Pyramid Loop but have since been resolved.
Schedule adherence was 93 per cent in January and February, which exceeds the minimum standard of 85 per cent for on-time performance.
In response to the opening of interim housing, the school route now stops for residents at the GA parcel along Connaught Drive on the southwest end of town.
Interim housing residents in parcels HH and HF on the northeast end of town are served through existing school bus and regular transit stops.
“As we get more people living in the interim housing, we will continue to review that, make adjustments as necessary, including, if it was required, adding new stops,” Given said.
The Alberta government recently announced it would expand the zone that disqualifies K-6 children for school bus service from one kilometre to 1.6 kilometres away, effective fall 2026.
“We're going to work with Grande Yellowhead [Public School Division] to understand what that impact might be, how that would impact students accessing the service,” Given said.
He added there would be other elements to consider, such as the interim housing that would open at Marmot Meadows south of town, which was outside the 1.6-kilometre radius and would qualify for student busing.
A Jasper-Hinton transit service was recently announced, with the provincial government providing a $2-million grant to develop the service.
“This is explicitly part of our housing strategy, and the intent is to provide Jasperites with more housing options by increasing connections to Hinton,” Given said.
Administration is now undertaking planning for the new service and aims to bring a report to council next month.
