Cold Lake to build transit shelter with province’s $680K in grant money

Cold Lake’s transit system is getting a lift from the province.

On Friday, the government of Alberta announced Cold Lake will receive just over $680,000 from the Alberta Community Transit Fund.

The city will look to use the grant money for a public works building.

“It’s going to towards a transit shelter. We’re gonna put it for a garage for the buses,” said Mayor Craig Copeland.

When the two buses are not in service, they reside at Southland in Cold Lake North where the school buses sit.

The city’s vision is to build a public works shop and part of the shop is going to have a transit garage.

“It will help us get going on our public works shop, so anything helps. It’s a good grant. The city staff deserves all the credit. They fill out the grant applications, and you might as well. If you don’t fill out these grant applications you’ll never get the money.

“I know that the provincial government is pretty impressed by our transit service for a small community so they’ve supported it very well,” said Copeland.

The city’s project is one of 33 chosen in the province’s announcement Friday, clocking in for a total of $215 million over four years.

The city does not know yet when the money will arrive or where a proposed public works shop will go. After that is figured out, the city could begin construction.

Cold Lake transit is free to use for all riders.