The city of Lethbridge, Alberta, is introducing seven new vans to its Lethbridge Transit’s fleet. The smaller vehicles that will service the Ride-on-Demand areas, in addition to some Access-a-Ride (AAR) users, are sleeker, more comfortable and cost-effective.
“These new vehicles are cheaper to purchase, maintain and cost less to run due to the increased fuel efficiency,” says Mario Galeana, Lethbridge Transit asset manager. “The last time we purchased Access-a-Ride vehicles, which was pre-pandemic, the cost was in the range of $200,000. These new vans were purchased for approximately half of that amount and offer roughly a 50 percent reduction in maintenance costs, too.”
The city says transit riders will also notice a smoother ride when compared to the traditional AAR vehicles, with better insulation against noise and temperatures. The vehicles are also smaller and more maneuverable, which makes handling easier for transit drivers.
“One additional benefit is we have the ability to customize seating in these new vehicles,” Galeana said. “It means we can adjust the seating configuration to meet demand on routes if needed. If we’re seeing a route that requires more seating and less space for wheelchairs, we can make that change to accommodate more passengers and vice versa.”
Providing a better ride experience while being cost-effective with tax dollars is a direction Lethbridge Transit has been working hard to accomplish.
“These new vehicles will offer an improved experience for everyone from riders to maintenance staff, so we’re excited to see the vans out on the street in the coming weeks,” says Darwin Juell, Lethbridge Transit acting general manager.
All seven new vehicles are expected to be operational in July.
