Long Plain gears up for bus service
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A new regional transit service is moving closer to reality for Long Plain First Nation following the arrival of a fleet of passenger buses.
The community recently took delivery of three transit buses, an acquisition that marks the culmination of a collaborative planning process that began four years ago.
Long Plain Chief David Meeches credited the community’s former leadership and the City of Portage la Prairie for originally developing the concept in 2022. Meeches said current council members and staff have worked diligently to push the project across the finish line.
“All we simply did is notify our people that this is now becoming a reality,” Meeches said of a recent update posted to the community’s social media page. “It’s not a formal announcement.”
The transit service is in its infancy, and Long Plain officials plan to meet with Portage la Prairie administrators and surrounding stakeholders to finalize service routes and operational schedules. Meeches noted that the transit network is intended to expand dynamically over time. Long Plain First Nation is located approximately 15 to 20 kilometres southwest of the city of Portage la Prairie.
“We’ll be working closely with Portage to see what kind of service we can provide,” Meeches said. “This is just right now the start of something, and it could work out and grow in accordance with the needs of everybody.”
The community is currently constructing a specialized facility to house the fleet. An official grand opening for the transit system will be scheduled in the near future.
The transit update comes as Long Plain First Nation prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary on its current land. The community is hosting a public birthday celebration on June 20.
The event will feature a massive giveaway of more than 500 bicycles for local children, an evening concert series, and a fireworks display. It will also include a ceremony honouring past political leaders, with a particular focus on women who have served on council over the last 150 years.
Meeches extended an invitation to the broader region to attend the weekend festivities.
“We welcome the citizens of Portage la Prairie to come and join us in our celebration,” Meeches said.
» Portage Graphic Leader