After existing for a year in temporary trailers, St. Albert Transit staff and officials celebrated the grand opening of their newly renovated transit facility Friday afternoon.
Named after the city’s long-time transit director, the Dez Liggett Transit Facility represents a $3.8-million renovation that nearly doubled the administration area in the Campbell Park facility.
Liggett was transit director for 24 years before retiring in 2009 and was on hand for the unveiling of the new space, newly named after him.
“I am so, so honoured,” he told a gathering of city employees, elected officials and members of his own family.
Liggett gave credit to the former council that decided in 1984 to establish transit in St. Albert, as well as employees and all levels of government that have been committed to public transit over the years.
“It’s not a mountain or an airport but it’s a very significant facility in our community and transit facility sounds so much better than bus barns.”
The naming was an easy choice since Liggett is synonymous with public transit in St. Albert, said Mayor Nolan Crouse.
“He guided the transformation of public transportation in St. Albert from a subset of Edmonton Transit to an independent transit provider,” Crouse said.
“Under his direction, St. Albert Transit was the first transit property in Canada to introduce low-level wheelchair accessible buses which are now the norm across the entire country.”
The federal government provided $2.8 million toward the project from the Gas Tax Fund. The province contributed $694,400 and the city $300,000.
The facility houses the city’s transit administration offices and bus barn. The renovation project also included upgrades to the fuel and waste oil systems and the building’s mechanical systems.
“It’s an important part of our business to be able to support the buses on the street,” said current St. Albert Transit director Bob McDonald. “The work that’s been done here … is all key to having the service that we require.”
St. Albert MLA Ken Allred said the new facility is a much-needed response to continuing growth.
“This is especially meaningful to me since I was here for the opening of the original facility,” said the former alderman who was on the council that first approved the start-up of a transit system in St. Albert.
Local member of Parliament Brent Rathgeber said one key to the new facility is that it’s more environmentally friendly.
“More than ever before, dependable public transportation is an essential element for maintaining sustainable, healthy and economically prosperous communities,” he said.
