The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has taken over the transit services in the area. Municipal staff are hoping that people who use the transit services did not notice anything different, and that the transition will continue to go smoothly and without any problems. Control of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo transit services was assumed by the municipality on May 22, last Friday. Roughly 90 days ago the changes were announced, with the municipality canceling the current contract with Tok Transit in order to bring these services back in house. Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo transit services manager Tony O’Doherty said “They won’t even notice that the transition has actually happened. (It’s) been going good. There will be some hiccups, but other than that we’ll be okay. There’s a little more detail involved than what we anticipated at first, but the contractor’s been co-operative in working with us.”

When the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo assumed control of the transit services many of the people who worked with Tok Transit have been helping with the transition during the 90 day escape clause period. A transit services audit last October showed that contract requirements were not being fulfilled. As a result the administration presented a business plan to the council and the municipality made the decision to make the switch to an in house method instead. Tok Transit Is now suing the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo over the contract for transit services. Tok alleges that the audit was misleading and that the contract was canceled without cause.