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!