A new handi-bus is ready to roll in the Battlefords. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

HELPING HAND

New handi-bus ready for service in the Battlefords

Oct 11, 2019 | 11:59 AM

It took a long time and a lot of hard work but it finally paid off.

Those were the words of Transit Manager Paul Robertson as he showed off the newly purchased handi-bus for the Battlefords Transit fleet.

The $110,000 purchase came thanks to partnerships between three governments and TeleMiracle. The City of North Battleford footed $38,500, the Town of Battleford forked over $16,500, the province put up $55,000 and TeleMiracle pitched in $10,000.

“It was something we needed desperately and it is great for all the parties concerned to get together and make this happen,” Robertson said. “I’m over the moon. It is not often you can make these things happens with the participation of everybody.”

In July, lawmakers in both municipality gave the thumbs up to the request from Robertson for funding as he said a new bus was needed to keep the fleet whole as he lacked a backup for when vehicles go out of commission.

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Further adding to the necessity for a new bus was the potential to acquire a contract to supply rides for the Saskatchewan Hospital. The handi-bus can be modified to act as a transit bus when required.

The transit service operates a medical shuttle program to Saskatoon. Robertson said about seven or eight trips have taken place. It is offered at just $380 for a full eight hours but the cost can be split between everyone on the bus. He said a taxi can cost upwards of $600 and an ambulance is well over $1,000.

The program takes rivers directly to their appointments, be it at one of the city’s hospitals or a private practice.

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow