JASPER – A new regional transit service is launching on Monday (July 14) to help support Jasper’s wildfire recovery.
Through its teal line, or regional loop, Jasper Transit will connect the Jasper townsite with the Hinton area and the interim housing site south of town called Marmot Meadows. For the Hinton-area stops, the bus will specifically stop at Parks West Mall and at Folding Mountain by the Jasper East Cabins general store.
This new transit service will provide five round trips per day between Jasper and Hinton as well as six round trips per day to Marmot Meadows.
“A free recovery pass is available specifically for Jasper residents who have been displaced outside the townsite, mainly those staying in interim housing at Marmot Meadows and in Hinton,” said Amanda Stevens, spokesperson for the Municipality of Jasper, in an email.
“It is not available to all interim housing residents; anyone housed within the townsite will be required to pay the regular fare,” Stevens added.
The recovery pass applies only to the regional service between Marmot Meadows, the Jasper Hub and Hinton. Anyone planning to use the regular transit service will require a separate pass, but recovery pass holders will be able to use their pass for free transit to and from the campground loop.
Everyone else who is not displaced outside the townsite will be required to pay fare for using this service.
The cost of a one-year fare between Hinton and Jasper is $15 per adult, although there is a monthly pass and a discounted rate for those who buy 10 one-way tickets, with an additional discount for youths and seniors. Regular fare applies for the Marmot Meadows loop.
The service was made possible by a $2-million grant from the provincial government that will allow the service to last for at least three years. Last month, Jasper council awarded the contract to SunDog Tours.
Stevens confirmed that the regional transit buses were being decaled on Friday (July 11) and will say “Regional Jasper Transit.”
For more information, including fares and schedules, visit the Municipality of Jasper’s website.
