A Sechelt company that recently had its bus-service application to link the upper and lower Sunshine Coast approved by BC’s Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) is planning round trips from Powell River to Vancouver three times a week beginning in May.
Sunshine Coast Connector (SCC) had its application fast-tracked under rules that allow for quick approval where there is urgent public need.
SCC will step in to offer service on a route previously run by Malaspina Coach Lines, which ceased operations last September, and is also planning a new route between Earls Cove and Langdale.
Powell River to Vancouver and return service will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A smaller bus will make two round trips per day between Earls Cove and Langdale.
In a decision released April 6, the PTB stated support from local governments and Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons weighed heavily in the company’s favour, as did the owners’ previous experience.
Dmitry Tyunin and Lana Zanazovsky have been in the transportation business since 2007, and the PTB said the partners have the necessary financing in place and a realistic business plan.
The PTB’s decision also stated there is an obvious need and “resumption of this service will promote sound economic conditions in the transportation business on the Sunshine Coast.”
Simons said he is pleased with the outcome and the company’s plans.
“The Langdale/Earls Cove route is an interesting new possibility that will allow a lot more people to get to and from Sunshine Coast communities,” said Simons. “I’m very happy that public need was obvious to an entrepreneurial couple who could immediately fill an important need in our communities.”
PTB is giving the company six months to have at least one bus up and running, but Tyunin said they expect to be on the road well before that deadline and hope to start running between Powell River and Vancouver in early May, with the second route getting started later that month.
Zanazovsky said the need for a more frequent service between the top of the peninsula and Langdale was something they had been hearing in the community.
“We went to see the MLA, Nicholas [Simons], and we met with some of the councillors from Powell River and Sechelt, and that’s what they mentioned,” she said.
Tyunin added that as well as filling a gap in BC Transit service between Halfmoon Bay and Earls Cove, the second route will work for Powell River travellers on days when the main route is not running. He said those passengers could get to Saltery Bay, then meet the bus when they get off in Earls Cove, take it to Langdale and then use Translink out of Horseshoe Bay.
Tyunin and Zanazovsky also said they still have a lot of work to do between now and the launch of the service, including promotion and settling the details of fares and schedules.
SCC indicated fares will likely be a little higher than Malaspina Coach Line’s were, but hope to keep fares for seniors close to what they were used to.
SCC has been talking with BC Ferries and has a commitment for assured loading if the bus is at the terminal 30 minutes ahead of the sailing, but no discount agreement yet.
“[BC Ferries] said they need to see what the volume of passengers will be after one year,” said Tyunin.
He added that the need to wait before negotiating a discount with BC Ferries is another reason fares will be a bit higher.
