Cold Lake, AB – Weekday transit service in Cold Lake will be faster, more efficient and with fewer delays when the City launches a new accelerated weekday schedule beginning Monday, March 14, 2022.

The new Monday to Friday service will follow the same accelerated Saturday schedule currently in place, but will start two hours earlier each weekday morning.

“Our transit customers have told us they want to get to their destinations faster, avoid the delays that come with waiting at timed stops, and generally just spend less time sitting on the bus,” said George Urlacher, Transportation Services Manager with the City of Cold Lake. “The new accelerated weekday schedule means there will be no waiting in between stops if a bus is running ahead of its scheduled time. For this reason, it’s imperative that anyone who regularly uses Cold Lake Transit download and become familiar with the TransLoc smartphone app. The times posted on the schedule can be used as estimates, but users should always watch their bus moving in real-time on the app to determine the best time to head to their stop.”

To speed up service and improve efficiency, drivers will no longer stop at posted bus stops if there are no passengers waiting to board or disembark. Additionally, scheduled wait times at the Tri City Mall transfer point will be shortened or eliminated to reduce delays.

“One of the great benefits of moving to a weekday accelerated service model is that people travelling from north to south or vice versa, will no longer have to transfer to a different bus at Tri City Mall,” said Urlacher. “They can stay on the same bus for their whole trip, saving time and making their ride much more convenient. The new schedule will also significantly reduce the amount of time it takes the bus to make a complete loop. The bus will cover the same distance it does currently, but in a shorter amount of time.”  

Implementation of the new weekday schedule was originally planned for 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public health restrictions. The new weekday schedule will not affect the current Saturday schedule or the fare structure. Cold Lake Transit will continue to operate Monday-Saturday with no service on Sundays or statutory holidays (except Canada Day and Remembrance Day).

Transit service is provided free of charge for residents and visitors by the City of Cold Lake and there are no immediate plans to implement a fare system.

To learn more about accelerated weekday transit service, visit www.coldlake.com/transit.

To download the TransLoc app, search “TransLoc” on the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit www.transloc.com.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the new accelerated weekday transit schedule?

Cold Lake Transit is replacing the current North Circle/South Circle schedule on weekdays with a new combined, accelerated service that covers the entire city. It’s the same schedule that is currently used on Saturdays, but it begins two hours earlier each weekday morning.

2. What changes come with the new schedule?

• Faster service: The bus will cover the same distance and hit all the same stops it does currently, but in a shorter amount of time.

• Fewer transfers: Passengers travelling from Cold Lake North to Cold Lake South or vice versa will no longer need to transfer to a different bus at the Tri City Mall transfer point. They can stay on the same bus for their entire journey.

• Fewer delays: Bus drivers will not stop at posted bus stops unless there are passengers waiting to board or disembark. Scheduled wait times at the Tri City Mall transfer point will be shortened or eliminated.

3. What is TransLoc and how can I get it?

TransLoc is Cold Lake Transit’s smartphone app. It shows the stops that are closest to you, scheduled and estimated arrival times, and real-time GPS tracking that displays the current location of each bus on a map. The TransLoc app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, Google Play store, or from the www.transloc.com/app. When searching for the app, look for this icon:

4. Do I need the TransLoc app to ride?

The TransLoc app is not required to ride on Cold Lake Transit; however, it is highly recommended that all regular customers download and become familiar with it. Since the new accelerated weekday schedule is faster and drivers will no longer stop at bus stops unless there are people waiting to board or disembark, the bus may be running slightly ahead of schedule. The scheduled times can be used as estimates, but customers are encouraged to use the real-time tracking feature to watch their bus and determine the best time to head to their stop.

5. Are the operating hours and days changing?

No, weekday bus service will still operate from 7:10 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday service will operate from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Buses do not run on Sundays or statutory holidays, except Canada Day and Remembrance Day.

6. Does the new accelerated weekday schedule mean Cold Lake Transit will begin charging fares?

No, transit service is provided free of charge for residents and visitors by the City of Cold Lake. There are no immediate plans to introduce a fare system.

7. Where can I get more information?

All the details about the new accelerated weekday schedule are available on our website at www.coldlake.com/transit. Questions can also be emailed to clt@coldlake.com.