There are two transit questions that you, the people of Cochrane, will need to consider in the coming year:
First, should Cochrane join a transit pilot providing a connection to Calgary? This pilot will have its operating funds provided by a grant and is essentially free for the first two years. The cost of this service to the tax payers after the two-year pilot project is estimated at $500,000 per year.
Second, is Cochrane ready for a local service between our communities within our town boundaries? The local service would be designed to link all Cochrane communities to each other, to downtown and to Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Center. In the coming year, there will be public engagement opportunities for you to give your feedback on these transit options. The cost of the local service could be up to three per cent on taxes or about $5 per household per month.
While we are talking about getting feedback on transit, I have given some thought to the CPR rail crossing at Horse Creek Road and I want to share a proposal that I would like to hear your comments on.
It is clear that we need a pedestrian crossing over the railway tracks at Horse Creek Road, and we could use a transit connection to Heartland and Heritage Hills. What are your thoughts around a dedicated pedestrian, transit and school bus crossing at the Horse Creek Road crossing point? I am purposely asking about a dedicated crossing for pedestrian, transit and school buses because, until the upgrading of Highway 22 and 1A has a solution, putting a completely open crossing at Horse Creek Road would put too great of a traffic load on Quigley Drive.
I would like your feedback so email me at [email protected].
