Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 18/02) - Iqaluit city council approved a plan last Wednesday to spend $22,000 on public transportation during the 2002 Arctic Winter Games.

The AWG Host Society's mandate only covers transportation for athletes. That leaves the city responsible for transporting visitors predicted to flood into Iqaluit next month.

Two buses will run 14 hours a day at a cost of $100 per hour. The money will come from a $50,000 fund set aside for a feasibility study on public transportation.

Charging for the service could offset some of the cost.

The city hopes to collect data during the week about routing and the number of passengers.

However, the information will be of little value for public transportation planning because an abnormally high number of people will be in Iqaluit.

"The information we get is going to be limited for sure," said Coun. Glenn Williams.

Nelson Soucy, part-owner of Pai-Pa Taxi, doesn't see the Games buses as a threat to his business.

"People are impatient in this town," he said. "They don't want to stand by a pole waiting for a bus. I'm not worried."

He added cabs will still be the only transportation option after-hours.

"It's a different kind of service. I don't think the bus is going to stop at the Tulugak Bar."