Davidee Nauyuk and his cousin Jopee Nauyuk will have to wait until March at the bus stop if they want to get a ride anywhere. Iqaluit's city council hopes the public transit system in the capital will be up and running by then. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

Deputy Mayor Kirt Ejesiak said the sooner the city gets the bus service the better.

"There is an apparent need for a transit system in our community and that is very evident in the letters of support we have received from the residents," said Ejesiak.

It is also evident in the final report on the proposed public transit system prepared by Dillon Consulting.

It was released at last week's council meeting.

The report is based on a trial period in which the city provided bus service from Oct. 21 to Nov. 18, 2002.

It states with a population of about 6,200, Iqaluit would be one of the smallest communities to provide a transit system. However, it also says with severe weather conditions and the remoteness of some residential areas the system would be warranted.

A recommendation made in the report is not to offer service on Sundays, holidays or during the evening. It is saying an adult fare of $2 is reasonable and that the city should expect about seven to 15 passengers per service hour.

The city has set aside $150,000 of its budget per year for the next five years to run the service.

"We hope that will be enough to run a good basic service," said Iqaluit's chief administrator Rick Butler.

To get the service up and going quickly, Butler said the contract will be singled-sourced.

By this, he means the city will go straight to the same company who operated the bus during the trial period, R.L. Hanson Construction and negotiate the best deal possible.

At the same time, a tender call will be put out for the operation from sometime in August for the next three to five years.

The contract with R.L. Hanson will only be valid until the end of sea lift season to give other companies a chance to participate in the bidding.

The days of service and the times offered will depend on the contract negotiated with R.L. Hanson. According to comment sheets filled out by Iqaluit residents on the service the three most important days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Coun. Glenn Williams said that's just not enough.

"We need to restrain ourselves and not go over budget but we need to find out the best way of using it. What about Sundays?" said Williams.

He suggested the city look at other possibilities such as increasing service in the winter and decreasing it in the warmer summer months.

Butler said he hopes to present the negotiations with R.L. Hanson to council on Feb. 11. If all goes well, he expects the transit system to be running by the beginning of March.