Calgary Minute: Electric Buses, Road Maintenance, and Cancer Facility Opens
Calgary Minute: Electric Buses, Road Maintenance, and Cancer Facility Opens
Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics
This Week In Calgary:
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On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be an Organizational Meeting of Council. The agenda includes the 2024-2025 Council Chamber Seating Plan, the 2025 Council Calendar and Deputy Mayor Roster, and Administration Member Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees, among other similar topics.
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Also on Tuesday, following the recess of the Organizational Meeting, there will be a meeting of the Community Development Committee. Following adjournment of the Community Development Committee meeting, there will be a meeting of the Infrastructure and Planning Committee. Agendas for both meetings are pretty sparse.
- Calgary Transit is seeking to procure a small fleet of electric shuttle buses after canceling its initial contract with Vicinity Motor Corporation due to production delays. Originally signed in June 2021, the contract for 14 buses was scrapped earlier this year as it became evident that delivery was unlikely. Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the City is not in a contract with a company facing financial difficulties, while a City official stated that no payments were made to Vicinity since the buses were never delivered. The pilot project, which will cost $14 million with $7 million from the Government of Alberta, will soon release a new request for proposals for 5 to 7 electric shuttles. Additionally, Calgary Transit is planning to replace its diesel buses with zero-emission alternatives, including a separate procurement for up to 180 electric buses scheduled for delivery in 2026.
Last Week In Calgary:
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The Infrastructure and Planning Committee has agreed to review potential increases in funding for road maintenance and pothole repairs, after hearing that only 38% of the city's 17,000 kilometers of roads are currently in good condition. To meet standards that 60% of arterial and 54% of collector roads are in good shape within the next decade, an additional $80 million annually is necessary, according to Administration. With the current budget of $47.8 million, road conditions are expected to worsen by 3.2% each year without increased investment.
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The City has started more repairs on the Bearspaw south feeder main, which are expected to continue until late November - but there are no water restrictions this time. The decision to undertake this work stems from an analysis revealing vulnerabilities in the pipe that required immediate attention, without affecting the city's water supply. This marks the third round of repairs in five months, following earlier incidents that triggered water restrictions for residents. The City is also exploring long-term solutions to prevent future disruptions, including plans for a new feeder main that would take eight years to complete.
- Calgary's new $1.4-billion Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre officially opened after seven years of construction. The state-of-the-art facility, one of the largest of its kind in North America, consolidates cancer services previously scattered across the city. Despite the celebration, concerns remain over staff shortages and increasing wait times for cancer treatment, with oncology referrals up 18% in the last seven years. Officials are optimistic that the centre's cutting-edge research capabilities will help attract more specialists. Premier Danielle Smith said the facility has the potential to make Alberta an international leader in cancer care.
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