Bus back March 3

The city has negotiated a contract with R.L. Hanson to have the city’s bus service back up and running on March 3.

The six-month contract will cost the city $65 an hour, or $69,500 for six months. The city has budgeted $150,000 a year over five years for the service.

Hanson will keep the $2 fare per passenger and report the revenue, per stop, back to the city on a weekly basis. There will be a mutually agreed upon opt-out clause in case Hanson or the city feels they can’t continue the service.

While Hanson runs the service, a tender will be issued for a three- to five-year term. The new service should begin in September.

The city’s chief administrative officer, Rick Butler, said the city is looking to other sources for extra revenue, including the federal department of transportation and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Councillor Stu Kennedy suggested some of the costs could be offset by offering advertising space on bus shelters or the bus itself.

The city will soon begin advertising the bus routes and hours, and after three months, the hours will be reviewed.