New accessible transit van strengthens community connections in the Town of Devon

Funding provided through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund

The Town of Devon, Alberta, is strengthening local mobility with the addition of a new accessible bus to its community transit fleet. Funded through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund and the Town of Devon, the new bus, which replaces an older model with limited accessibility features, will broaden service access for seniors and community members with reduced mobility.  Additionally, this new bus will help ensure that people in the community can continue to benefit from reliable, accessible transportation.

Serving a population of roughly 6,500, Devon's community transit is a vital link that connects people to daily essentials and to each other. The service supports local shopping trips twice a week, two weekly trips to the neighbouring City of Leduc for shopping and physical activity, and it also plays an active role in Food Bank deliveries. The vehicle is also available for low-cost rentals to senior centres, long-term care facilities, youth groups, schools, and local programs and organizations.

For vulnerable residents, including seniors and individuals with mobility challenges, the service has become a lifeline, offering both practical access to essential services and meaningful opportunities for social connection. Riders use the bus to shop for groceries, attend appointments, and enjoy time together catching up on local news during the ride.

Early feedback from users highlights the service's impact. It is meeting a real community need, strengthening local connections, and contributing to Devon's local economy by increasing access to businesses and community events.

The Town of Devon's investment in accessible, community-driven transit continues to demonstrate how even small-scale initiatives can have a big impact, such as supporting inclusion, connection, and resilience for everyone.

Quick facts

• The Town of Devon is approximately 26 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
• Residents in Devon call the bus the “Folkswagon,” reflecting its role in strengthening social connection, in addition to its transit practicality.
• The federal government invested $112,000 in this project through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), and the Town of Devon contributed $58,000.
• Launched in 2021, the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF) supports initiatives that enhance access to public transit, helping residents of rural, remote, Indigenous and Northern communities conduct their day-to-day activities. By improving the availability and reliability of public transit options, the RTSF helps build stronger, more connected communities across the country.
• The RTSF supports a range of public transit models, including fixed-routes transit, flex-route transit, demand-response transit, community shuttles and mobility-as-a-service. In addition to supporting rolling stocks, the RTSF funds fixed infrastructure that improve access to public transit.

For more information

• Devon Transit – Community Bus
• Rural Transit Solutions Fund