The Town of Penhold is getting support from neighbouring municipalities when it comes to their future expansion and public transit needs.

Red Deer County has agreed to support their application for a grant for a pilot project that expands public transit services from Springbrook to include Penhold and Innisfail.

County Mayor Jim Wood says this is the start of an important process for growth and prosperity for all.

“I think that this grant will identify what may work and what may not work with such a proposal. It may identify who would have to pay for such a proposal as well. I know there was some concern from council, ‘this might cost us, and we’ll have to buy another bus’. Wasn’t what we were talking about today (March 6th). Maybe one of the other communities will buy the bus, who knows right? But I think it’s important we continue to work with our urban neighbours.”

Some councillors expressed concerns that it would cost the County money down the road, with them being stuck footing the bill for upkeep or new buses.

But Wood says they have a public transit system that works together with the City of Red Deer, who looks after the buses for a fee, and public transit is about more than money paid up front.

“I think some of the concerns that always come forward is that public transit never pays for itself directly by the fees, it often pays for itself by the economic development it creates within our community.”

Wood says supporting the application for a pilot project grant funding for Penhold will eventually lead to framework being developed on who manages and maintains the system once it's operational.