That’s the ticket! When Wes Brodhead introduced his idea to look into the possibility of amalgamating St. Albert’s small transit system with Edmonton’s big one at this week’s council meeting, he did far more good for his council colleagues than they probably realize. Finally, we have our civic leaders debating the merits of a forward thinking idea that makes good sense, and to be honest, doesn’t make them look like ridiculous micro-managers arguing over amendment upon meaningless amendment.
Consider, for a moment, this council’s recent record. There were time-wasting debates over medical marijuana controls when there aren’t even any facilities proposed for St. Albert, a water conservation bylaw that civic bureaucrats say isn’t needed and a law that assumes the guilt of any resident found in possession of a dog but no plastic bag. I’m sorry officer, wink, wink, but you can’t search my pocket without reasonable cause.
But let’s get back on the bus with Brodhead’s idea. Considering that most other major Canadian cities employ one transit system, to go say from North Vancouver to Burnaby, the need for St. Albert buses — along with an entire redundant transportation administration — to go into downtown Edmonton everyday to pick up weary workers might well be outdated. More importantly, we’ll never know that for sure until the retired ETS executive’s proposal is examined and the numbers are crunched.
At one time, not so many years ago, separate systems conveying commuters to not only St. Albert, but Sherwood Park, Leduc, Beaumont and Spruce Grove/Stony Plain appeared to be the way to go. Populations of most bedroom communities were much smaller than they are now and the empty spaces between the municipalities were much greater.
Brodhead, no doubt realizing that regional cooperation rarely shifts out of first gear, wisely limited his motions to only starting the conversation with the other communities as well as having Mayor Nolan Crouse request that Edmonton’s administration also look into the idea.
Both motions were unanimously passed, though Crouse remained skeptical that an amalgamated transit system will come to fruition. A regional system may look good on paper, he warned, he’s not so certain other jurisdictions will want to put money towards it.
Let’s hope he’s wrong. The regional waste water commission has proven to be a success, and we might as well admit it, the entire region’s drinking water has been purified by Edmonton facilities for decades, no matter how independent some may consider themselves. A regional transportation is an idea whose time is quickly coming. It may be far better to be the driver of this bus, than to be standing in the snow waiting for it to arrive.
