68% Support Public Transit for Greater West Bench and Sage Mesa

Thank you to everyone who completed the  Greater West Bench and Sage Mesa Public Transit Survey.  We had 110 residents respond; 68% are in favour of transit service for the area. 

This means that at the next Board meeting (Thurs., Oct. 3), the Board will vote on whether or not to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BC Transit to implement an introductory transit service of 400 hours proposed to begin September 2020.   

The total cost for this service is $33,381. Rural transit is heavily subsidized by the province which will pay just under 50% and transit users are anticipated to contribute around $2,230.   That leaves Greater West Bench/Sage Mesa residents paying around $15,500 or $26/property (approx.).   An added bonus at this point in time, there are no additional fees associated with having to bring in a new bus as this service will make use of existing vehicles that are on lay-overs.   

While public transit is almost never a money-maker,  provincial money and the use of existing buses to implement a community service that should prove useful is pretty enticing. The next step is to engage in a planning process in partnership with BC Transit and, of course, residents.

If you have any questions please send me an email or call. Alternatively, comments here are always welcome.

Thanks!