The Squamish-Whistler commuter service will end on Sept. 30 unless B.C. Transit comes forward with what District of Squamish council considers a viable and intelligent option. As things currently stand, the contract is cancelled.
"We need some answers here. We're not going to subsidize this when it makes no sense," said Mayor Greg Gardner, who voiced frustration over the lack of options presented by B.C. Transit directors Peter Rantucci and Graeme Masterton during the four-hour B.C. Transit workshop on Tuesday (June 28).
The part that "makes no sense," according to Gardner, is the number of users - Masterton said the maximum number of passengers on the bus at any time is less than 20, whereas the buses have room for 39.
The options B.C. Transit presented were to maintain the service with existing trips, maintain the service with reduced trips (only two trips and no late-night service), remove subsidized services and work with private carriers to adjust schedules and/or ticket pricing to meet inter-city travel demand or end all subsidized services and rely on private carriers for inter-city service.
Masterson said whatever option the district chose, B.C. Transit would still need time to come up with "a marketing program and a strategic pricing review." However, that was what council had expected to see at Tuesday's meeting.
"The only reason we're at this point today is because of a very high-level request from Victoria to subsidize the service for another six months while B.C. Transit had the opportunity to analyze this," Gardner said.
"Now today you're telling us we need to give notice if we aren't going to extend the service beyond Sept. 30, but you don't have feasible options for us."
District engineering manager Brian Barnett echoed Gardner's disappointment, despite his statement at the beginning of presentation that officials had rehearsed the presentation.
"With the risk of damaging the relationship with B.C. Transit, I will say B.C. Transit asked us to give them six months to maintain the ridership and come up with a plan," he said. "They haven't come up with a plan and we haven't maintained the ridership."
Council members were unaware before Tuesday's meeting that if they chose to end the subsidized commuter service they were required to give three months notice - by Thursday, June 30 -to the Whistler Transit operator. Mention of that requirement aggravated several councillors.
"There is no money in the district budget at this time and even if there was, we need more time to process and more information," said Coun. Rob Kirkham. "We can't commit this money."
Extending the service for another six months while awaiting more detailed plans from B.C. Transit would cost the district $128,000. It would also cost B.C. Transit, and therefore the Province, much more.
"Essentially the Province is providing an additional $109,000 annually - $50,000 for each six-month agreement - over its regular 46.7 per cent funding of the STS system costs to cover the district's annual capital costs of the four Sea to Sky vehicles," Rantucci said. "Normally, this cost would be part of the overall costs paid by the local government."
Several councillors expressed shock that B.C. Transit would front that amount of money for a service being used by so few riders.
"I'm concerned about that subsidy," said Coun. Corinne Lonsdale. "The amount that used to be picked up by Whistler is now being picked up by the taxpayers of B.C. and I don't know why you're interested in that."
Gardner echoed her concern.
"We're all provincial taxpayers as well," he said.
"And it seems a bit unfair for Whistler not to pay - if one partner isn't going to play, then it's not much of a partnership."
Gardner suggested the District of Squamish cancel the contract and Coun. Paul Lalli put forward the motion, which was carried unanimously. B.C. Transit agreed to look at more detailed options to bring back to council in July with an eye toward the possibility of reinstating the contract.
