The District of Squamish hopes to ease the brakes on Greyhound's request to axe stops in town.
Last month, North America's largest intercity bus company applied to the Passenger Transportation Board of B.C. (PTB) to cut a number of stops along the Vancouver-Squamish-Whistler corridor. The measure would allow Greyhound Canada to establish a two-hour express service between Vancouver and Whistler, officials stated.
In Squamish, Greyhound is proposing to slash the Dentville, Garibaldi Highlands and Brackendale pick-ups and drop-offs. The Greyhound depot on Government Road in Garibaldi Estates "will still be open and buses will still be stopping there" if the changes are approved, Justin Baynton, Greyhound's Sea to Sky operations manager wrote in an email to The Chief earlier this month.
District staff brought forward a motion to make the PTB aware that they object to the proposal due to the lack of consultation with local governments. But council wasn't so gungho to be so heavy-handed.
Greyhound is a private company, not a government agency, Coun. Doug Race said. While the lack of public consultation is one issue, government shouldn't dictate to a business trying to turn a profit, he said.
Chopping the cuts down to provide a faster service makes sense, Race said.
"Why should Squamish have four stops when Vancouver has one?" he questioned.
Rather than building a road block, officials should work with Greyhound to find solutions, Coun. Susan Chapelle said. Whether the route is profitable shouldn't even be a part of discussions, she added.
"Maybe we should be writing to the province to ask for regional transportation," Chapelle said.
With sarcasm in her tone Coun. Patricia Heintzman said it was great that Greyhound didn't take the district's letter asking for more public consultation to heart when officials previously complained about service cuts last January.
The latest planned cuts would further diminish an already dwindling service, Heintzman said.
"This is a dramatic change for our community," she said, noting the change would effect businesses and farmers who use Greyhound's cargo program.
Mayor Rob Kirkham said council would be remiss if it didn't express an opinion regarding Greyhound's process and proposal. City officials are seeking consultation and welcome further dialog with Greyhound.
