Regina Airport Authority wants to get public transit off the ground

The Regina Airport Authority is willing to pitch in $100,000 per year over three years to make public transit to the airport available to travellers and staff.

That’s according to a report that is to go before the city’s Community and Protective Services committee on Thursday.

The money would help pay the operating costs for Regina Transit. Consider it a financial incentive to help get the service off the ground, said airport CEO James Bogusz.

“By supporting it financially in the first few years, along with making some commitments to invest dollars in some hard infrastructure like concrete bases, perhaps some wind shelters … we’re hoping we’ll raise the profile of this potential route,” Bogusz said.

The report lists two possible options to serve the airport.

One would be to create a new route, running from downtown, along 13th Avenue and Sandra Schmirler Way.

It’s the more expensive option, at $244,000 in total per year. However, it would increase transit in the Cathedral area and add service to a small residential area west of Lewvan Drive.

The second option would be expanding the Normandy Heights-Eastview route. Total operating costs would be $209,000, but the report says it would add 10 minutes to people’s trips and see fewer riders.

As the airport has reduced parking rates and added ridesharing, Bogusz said transit is the next logical step.

“We know there’s going to be some demand. It’s just hard to gauge how much until a service would actually begin,” he said. “Typically, ridership builds over time. It doesn’t happen all on the first day.”