West Yellowhead Transportation Working Group
Rural Regional Alternate Transportation for Seniors Project
Overview of the West Yellowhead Region-MARD Working Group Activities 2018-2019
The Medically At-Risk Driver Centre (MARD Centre) is located in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta. Alternate transportation for seniors (ATS) is one of MARD’s priority areas of research. Transportation is essential to maintaining the health, independence, and social inclusion of seniors. Although the private automobile is the most common and preferred method of transportation, not all seniors have access to one. Conventional public transportation is unavailable in almost all rural areas of the province due to costs of service delivery, low population densities, and long distances between residents and businesses. As a result, some rural communities in Alberta have implemented ATS
services. These services most often consist of a not-for-profit service provided via a handivan, minivan, and/or a bus or through private vehicles with volunteer drivers. Often these ATS services transport small numbers of people great distances (e.g., medical transportation) or provide transportation within a confined jurisdiction (e.g., in-town). Over the next several decades, the demand for coordinated ATS services in rural areas will increase significantly due to the aging of the population, the steadily increasing number of seniors who are transportation disadvantaged due to health and/or mobility challenges, and the regionalization of many services.
Over the last 6 years, MARD has worked with rural and remote communities in developing and implementing ATS services. Communities that we have worked with include Wainwright, Pincher Creek,
Big Lakes County, the Sturgeon Region Working Group, and the West Yellowhead Working Group. In addition, MARD has conducted a provincial survey on the unmet transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities (see mard.ualberta.ca) and has developed a Toolkit for the Implementation of
Alternate Transportation for Seniors in Alberta. The Transportation Toolkit is available online and in a hard copy format, with both versions available at no cost (see https://cloudfront.ualberta.ca/-
/media/mard/toolkit_2016-02-23_338x451/transportation-toolkit-web-mar21.pdf). As of March 31,
2018, there has been 1154 downloads of the toolkit, with 500 disseminated in hard copy format.
In September, 2017, MARD issue an RFP to interested rural coalitions (e.g., Alberta community organizations, rural municipalities, counties, or municipal districts) to work with MARD on developing a regional ATS service in a rural area in Alberta. Adjudication of the submitted proposals occurred in
February 2018. Due to the strengths of the applications received, MARD elected to award two grants for the one-year Rural Regional ATS Project. The West Yellowhead Region was one of two successful applicants, with the Sturgeon Region being the second recipient. The West Yellowhead Region
partnership consists of members from Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton, Jasper, and Yellowhead County. Over the past 11 months, the West Yellowhead Region Working Group has worked collaboratively on the development of a model of alternate transportation services for seniors.
A. Environmental Scan of Existing Transportation Services
1. Hinton has existing services but are in the process of being improved to meet the needs.
2. Edson has existing local bus services for seniors (ESTS) but they do not provide transportation
outside town limits.
3. Jasper’s need for alternate transportation services for seniors is predicted to increase due to the
Jasper Senior’s Society relinquishing ownership of the bus to the municipality.
4. Yellowhead County does not have a service and is in need. Wildwood currently has the
Community Connector bus with limited service.
B. Developing a Project Plan
In addition to the environmental scan of transportation services in the region, the Working Group has worked on the development of a Project Plan that has included:
1. Developing vision and mission statements,
2. Identifying key stakeholders in the region including medical services given that one of the
primary challenges identified by the Working Group was the need for medical transportation
within and outside the region (e.g., for medical appointments in Edmonton and Hinton). Those
stakeholders included:
a. Primary Care Networks
1. McLeod River PCN (Edson Medical Centre – 16 physicians; Fox Creek
Medical – 3 physicians ; Whitecourt Associate Medical Clinic – 7
physicians); Whitecourt Life Medical Clinic – 6 physicians); Mayerthorpe
Family Practice Associates – 5 physicians and a geriatrician services once a
month in Mayerthorpe)
2. Bighorn PCN (Grande Cache Medical Clinic – 3 physicians; Hillcrest
Medical Associates – 3 physicians)
b. Other medical services/clinics in the region or in major centres
i. Within the Region (Hinton Medical Clinic – 9 physicians; Jasper Health Care
Services – Family Physicians and Hospital; Cottage Medical Clinic – 8
physicians)
ii. Medical Clinics outside the Region
Clinics Community
Barrhead Medical Clinic Barrhead
Associate Medical Clinic Westlock
Pembina Medical Clinic Westlock
Claro Clinic Drayton Valley
Malone Clinic Drayton Valley
Shale Medical Clinic Drayton Valley
Grove Medical Centre Spruce Grove
King Street Clinic Spruce Grove
Parkland Medical Clinic Spruce Grove
Spruce Pro Family Clinic Spruce Grove
Symphony Medical Clinic Spruce Grove
Tri-Wellness MD Centre Spruce Grove
Westgrove Clinic Spruce Grove
Westland Family Clinic Spruce Grove
Main Street Clinic Stony Plain
Meridian Medical Clinic Stony Plain
c. Other Key Stakeholders
i. Transportation Service Providers
1. Edson – ESTS
2. Hinton – Town of Hinton: FCSS- Transit (First Canada) and Freedom Express,
Pine Valley Lodge, and Neighbourlink Hinton
3. Jasper – Seniors society operates the bus on a limited basis
4. West Yellowhead – Community Connector bus in Wildwood that has
specific limited routes (Evansburg, Drayton Valley), and is available for
private bookings
5. Grande Cache – Community bus will do door-to-door once a week
6. Sun Dog – SunDog Transportation and Tours has a daily shuttle service
between Edmonton, Edson, Hinton and Jasper, with pick-ups and drop-offs
available at the Edmonton International Airport and the WEM (Leaves
Jasper at 0700, Hinton at 0820, arrives WEM at 1125 and EIA at 1230).
Departs EIA at 1515, WEM at 1600 arriving at Edson at 1815, Hinton at 1910
and Jasper at 2000).
C. Identifying the High Priority of Medical Appointments
One of the primary challenges identified was the need to travel long distances for medical
appointments in Edmonton and Hinton. The Working Group reached out to Sun Dog
Excursions as they have been providing service from Jasper to Edmonton for 12-13 years, with
medical excursions introduced 8-9 years ago. Currently, daily service is from Jasper departing at 0700
hours with stops in Hinton at 0820; Edson 0930; arriving at West Edmonton Mall [WEM] at 11:25; and
at the EIA at 12:30. The return trip departs EIA at 15:15; WEM at 1600; Edson 1815; Hinton 1910;
arriving in Jasper at 2000. For the daily service, Sun Dog arranges the taxi in Edmonton (from
Fantasyland Hotel) to take clients to their medical appointments once in Edmonton. Once clients have
finished their appointments, clients call Sun Dog to arrange for a taxi back to the Sun Dog pick-up
location. From December to March, Sun Dog also provides an Express Service to the Edmonton
International Airport (does not stop at WEM). This service runs 3 days a week and departs Jasper at
1000, arrives in Hinton around 1100, Edson around 1200, and EIA at 1400. Continuing service to
downtown Edmonton is available through the Edmonton Transit System (ETS). The express bus leaves
EIA at 1630. A teleconference was held with Sun Dog Excursions on February 7, 2019 with
conversations ongoing.
D. Raising Awareness of Existing Transportation Services
The Working Group identified the need to raise awareness of the existing Sun Dog transportation service
(once daily run to Edmonton) and to gauge the demand/need for an additional run in the future. This would include:
1. Developing marketing materials (e.g., brochures with information about the medical excursions)
2. Holding town hall meetings/community events to share information about the service. Sun Dog
has indicated their willingness to attend these town hall meetings.
3. Increasing awareness in the medical community of the existing Sun Dog services, particularly for
referrals to larger centres for medical appointments.
E. Going Forward 1. Sharing Information about current and new transportation services through: I. Council II. Interagency III. Community
2. The West Yellowhead Working Group will continue to work on this project until there are ways and means for persons who use wheelchairs, walkers or others with other mobility issues have access to proper, comfortable, reliable, affordable and sustainable transportation services.
And to continue to improve the transportation services provided as the needs arise.
The needs will be assessed through:
-surveys on SUNDOG bus routes -questionnaires in all communities
GETTING TO & FROM MEDICAL Thanks to the the APPOINTMENTS Medically At-Risk Driver AT YOUR HOME CLINIC Centre and the IN EDMONTON Tell the booking nurse you don't have University of Alberta for access to a personal vehicle working with our region Ask that your Edmonton appointment to develop an alternate take place between 12:45pm and transportation service 3pm, so you can utilize the regional for seniors and the medical transportation service medically at risk. GETTING TO & FROM
West YellowheaMd RegEionaDl MedIicCal TrAanspLort Committee APPOINTMENTS IN EDMONTON After sharing a bit about the destination, take the time to impart key knowledge on getting around. Put in some tips on how one can fully enjoy a trip or suggest some ideal places to visit while in an area.
With funding from: April 2019 TRANSPORTATION HOW IT WORKS: SCHEDULE
Guests will travel on Sundog's Round-trip shuttle to Edmonton Connector service to the West Edmonton Mall with Fantasyland Hotel entrance of the connecting transportation West Edmonton Mall.
to & from medical appointments WHEN YOU BOOK: LOCAL SUPPORTS JASPER – Departs 7am daily At the time of booking, SunDog will door-to-door service require the address of your medical If you require assistance in organizing Cost - $109 appointment and will arrange for your transportation, contact: sedan or van service to be waiting for you shortly after arriving at the mall to JASPER HINTON – Departs 8:15am daily Community Outreach Services from Freson Bros. IGA deliver you to the address of your 627 Patricia Street Carmichael Lane appointment. Monday to Friday, 9am-4:30pm Cost - $89 780-852-2100 NOTE: If you have appointments EDSON – Departs 9:15am daily that require you to be in the city HINTON from Best Western High Road Inn overnight, SunDog will be happy to FCSS Cost - $79 assist you in making the most efficient 821 Switzer Drive shuttle arrangements. Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm ENTWISTLE – Only available on 780-865-3036 request when booking AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT: Cost - $79 EDSON At the end of your appointment, Community Services contact SunDog (1-888-786-3641) 605-50th Street to arrange for transportation back to Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm CALL TO BOOK: the mall prior to the bus' 780-723-4403 SunDog Tours 4pm departure. 780-852-4056 YELLOWHEAD COUNTY COMPANION FARE: Toll Free: 1-888-786-3641 FCSS: Wildwood Office If you have a companion joining you, Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm [email protected] they qualify for the same reduced fee. 1-800-814-3935 or 780-325-3782