Transportation Study, Town of Edson RFP CSA 22 025

With the help of the Transportation Study, the Town aims to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents including but not limited to Seniors, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, persons experiencing poverty and our Indigenous population. At the request of Town Council, The Town of Edson completed some public consultation with community partners and our residents in the form of a survey and community meetings with stakeholders in 2021. Although the survey was launched during the pandemic, there was significant participation, and the Town truly believes this is an area of interest of residents of all ages and abilities. The Town of Edson was successful in securing the Rural Transit Solutions Fund Planning & Development Grant to conduct a thorough transportation study within our community and determine how to address shortfalls and meet local needs moving forward. We seek to hire a consultant which specializes in transportation studies to conduct a desk top study combined with field research, engage with residents, stakeholders, and consult with our Town of Edson staff and Transportation Committee to seek creative ways to enhance our current services and make recommendations on transportation models that would best meet the needs of our residents. Edson’s geographic location is such that it receives a lot of traffic passing through on Highway 16 – East bound & West bound, which is an important corridor. This divides our community into three different parts. Because of such division, the zoning of the Town is such that residential districts primarily remain north of Highway 16 West, and commercial/industrial districts remain South of highway 16 West. This creates challenges for those who rely on public transportation or walkability to either go shopping or reach essential services, and workplaces. The Edson Healthcare Centre is also located on the far East end of Town creating challenges. The need for such a study has been identified by the Town in collaboration with local stakeholder groups to ensure a strategic and holistic approach for any future investments in public transportation. Most notably, public transportation has an integral role to play in enhancing the health and well-being of our community and its residents, as it improves accessibility (including for vulnerable populations with limited available transportation options) as well as environmental health (by promoting low-carbon modes of transportation).