With funding from the Government of Canada’s rural transit solutions fund, qathet Regional District (qRD) and Tla’amin Nation are exploring the feasibility of a rural on-demand transit solution for Electoral Areas A, B, C, D and Tla’amin.
According to a qRD media release, this study will analyze how well the current rural paratransit service meets residents’ needs and will explore if the regional district should supplement or replace the existing service with an on-demand transit solution.
Based on a review of on-demand pilots in neighbouring areas, the region public transportation exploration working group, which included representation from City of Powell River, qRD and Tla’amin, identified on-demand transit as a potential solution to address transportation challenges in rural areas of the region, the release stated. To learn more about the project and to access the survey, go to qathet.ca/transit-feasibility-study.
BC Transit currently operates three fixed paratransit routes in the rural areas of qathet region, the release stated. These include: Route 12 – Stillwater; and Route 12 – Texada Island; Route 14 – Lund. This service is funded by BC Transit, taxpayers from Electoral Areas A through D, and contributions from Tla’amin.
Unlike a fixed-route service where the bus comes at set times to designated stops, on-demand transit riders typically use app-based technology to schedule rides when they need them, the release stated. Routes, stops and overall travel times are determined by passenger pick-up and drop-off locations.
qathet Regional District wants to hear from residents about their travel needs, if and how they use the existing bus routes, how they understand the transportation challenges in the region, and to share some possible solutions. To become involved, residents can complete an online survey, which will be available from October 3 to 20, on the regional district’s website, at qathet.ca/transit-feasibility-study. A paper version is available upon request. Copies can be acquired by calling 604.485.2260, or by emailing [email protected] to get a copy.
There will also be four open house sessions held. The first is north of town at the Northside Community Recreation Centre on October 16, from 5 to 7 pm. There will be a session at Tla’amin Nation in the administration building on October 17 from 5 to 7 pm.
The south of town open house will be held on October 18 at Lang Bay Community Hall from 5 to 7 pm, and the final session will be on Texada, at the Texada Island Community Hall in Gillies Bay, from 5 to 7 pm.
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