Southeast Regional Transport Initiative (SERTi) Research Study Supports Rural Municipality Transportation Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINNIPEG, (November 22, 2024):  The AMBM, Eco-West Canada and the Rural Municipality of Piney will be sharing their rural transportation feasibility and market studies at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities annual fall convention on Monday, November 25. The Southeast Region Transport initiative (SERTi) feasibility and marketing report has already been used to develop and implement new transportation solutions in the Rural Municipality of Piney. With new technology, many transportation options have become more available, such as busing, carsharing, carpooling, ridesharing as well as e-bikes. The findings from the studies will be critical for submitting funding applications to the federal and provincial governments.

The SERTi project explored several potential public transit service solutions for a group of partners that included: the municipalities of De Salaberry, Hanover, La Broquerie, Piney, Reynolds, Ritchot, Stuartburn, Ste-Anne, Taché; as well as the Town of Ste. Anne, Village of St-Pierre-Jolys, Buffalo Point First Nation, and the Steinbach Economic Development Corporation.

“Projects such this one can be game changers for municipalities looking for new transportation funding,” says Dany Robidoux, Executive Director of Eco-West Canada. “This particular project has provided 11 municipalities and one First Nations group with powerful metrics that will help meet the requirements for successful grant applications. The deadline to apply for funding can often be extremely short and as a result municipalities really need to have their data ready to go when the opportunity for obtaining funds becomes available.”

The SERTi study including a public survey to see what current municipal needs and interest are as concerns the implementation of conventional bus transit services, carsharing, carpooling, ridesharing, electric bike sharing, biking networks/trails, as well as public transit HUBs in their respective areas.

In the feasibility and market studies, public transit services were recognized as having direct and indirect benefits. Demand for the service will invariably fluctuate while costs tend to increase constantly. Ridership and concomitant fares as well as governmental development and maintenance of services will result in direct and indirect benefits in the area of economic development, such as reducing the need for vehicles and therefore savings in transportation for households, a reduction of vehicles on the roads, reduction of air pollution and GHGs, etc.

In light of the study findings, project managers and consultants suggest implementation of the most economical services where they are warranted. For example:

• Carpooling does not require investment in a vehicle and can be informally set up via social media, which can be done via a ‘smart’ platform managed by a responsible organization. Carpooling may cover multi-passenger taxi-bus type services, using minivans to meet more specific needs such as users with reduced mobility, etc.
• Carsharing in support of the two services of carpooling in order to increase the offer and reduce rates or costs for users. 
• Bus services should be contingent on whether there is sufficient demand in a certain area and if partial funding is available; it would be best to gradually introduce bus services with fixed routes or in on-demand-transit mode.
• For eBike sharing, it is recommended to proceed very gradually and start in the regions that are most interested and where cycling facilities are adequate.

Overall, the studies clearly demonstrate that smaller, rural municipalities can benefit from innovative, targeted transit strategies. Municipalities that are interested in exploring various transportation options for their residents as well as conducting feasibility studies based on the SERTi model described above are encouraged to contact Eco-West Canada to get moving in a sustainable new direction.
 

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About Eco-West Canada

Eco-West Canada’s (EWC) mandate is to promote the growth of small and medium-sized municipalities through the planning and implementation of sustainable economic development initiatives at the local and regional levels. In 2018, EWC was incorporated as a not-for-profit national entity and member of the AMBM (Association des Municipalités Bilingues du Manitoba) Group.

Contact:

Michel Forest
Eco-West Canada
C. (204) 806-4035
E. mforest@eco-ouest.com