Suspension of bus service by Sunshine Coast Connector to the Lower Mainland was a recent topic of discussion for Powell River city councillors.
At the November 3 committee of the whole meeting, councillors reviewed correspondence from D. Gledhill-Park, expressing concerns about the service being discontinued until May 2021. Gledhill-Park asked if there was something council could do to help.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said it was her understanding that a committee had been established between the city and qathet Regional District (qRD), and they were going to meet with the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) in an effort to establish a public transit system from Powell River to Langdale, at least.
Councillor Jim Palm said he was a member of the qRD transportation committee and this item was on the committee’s docket when it was first started. He said the three local governments met and determined a course of action.
qRD chair Patrick Brabazon and city director councillor George Doubt were appointed to spearhead initiatives with the lower Sunshine Coast in order to try to marry up a bus service.
Palm said after the announcement from Sunshine Coast Connector, he has been trying to find out what happened to that committee and about progress being made.
“I was very disappointed to hear the lower Sunshine Coast does not think this is part of their mandate, and for them to try to help us out,” said Palm. “It kind of fell off the wagon and it has gone by the wayside. We were not given any updates until we heard the bad news, and now we’re faced with a situation where our residents can’t get to Vancouver.”
Palm said being on the regional transportation committee, he was saddened to hear the news. He said he was hoping local representatives would be able to work with the regional district in the south to make things happen.
Doubt said from last year until recently, there has been very little contact with (SCRD). He said there was one meeting at about this time last year. The good news is there is going to be a joint meeting between the two regional districts at the end of November, he added.
“I’ve asked to have this regional transportation item put on the agenda so we can try to move it forward,” said Doubt. “I understand, because I’ve been following the various transportation committees, that BC Transit is really reticent to get into more services right now because they are struggling to actually provide the services that are in their current mandate.
“Regardless of whether we can do something immediately, it’s important for everyone in the region to get work going on the project, to talk to transit, talk to ferries and get all of the local governments on the same page, trying to get something so there is a reasonable public transportation option from Lund, to Horseshoe Bay, so people have an opportunity to move around if they don’t have their own personal vehicle, or if they are unable to drive.”
Doubt said he would be reporting back after the meeting on what happened during the discussion.
“It’s going to be a long slog,” said Doubt. “It’s not something that is going to change overnight, but I want to make sure we all keep working on it.”
The committee voted to receive the letter.
