The Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) resolved to consult Sea to Sky municipalities for direction on spending for transit during the board's meeting Tuesday (Jan. 29).
Late last year, the SLRD took steps toward establishing a regional transit service. The board agreed more discussion was needed, but chose to move forward in order to receive potential grants, since some sort of transit function must be in place before monies are dolled out.
"There needs to be some type of planning aspect if we are going to spend the money because not all of it is covered by the Gas Tax funds," said Paul Edgington, SLRD administrator.
The SLRD board opted to spend $50,000 for the planning and implementation of the infrastructure construction. Initially the money would be spent on building proper bus pullouts, transit shelters, and park and facilities for commuters.The long-term plan is to create a link of Lillooet with Squamish while reducing demands of the commuter shuttle in and out of Whistler.
But Squamish council recently passed a resolution asking that the SLRD drop a proposed bylaw to establish a service for transit planning and infrastructure construction. The approved bylaw could pave the way for $1,191,531 under the Federal-Provincial Gas Tax Agreement.At least one SLRD director said she thinks it's better to move forward.
"We know that access to funding is greater if we are looking at regional initiatives where everyone is participating," said Susie Gimse, Area C director.
"I think if we start backpedalling, we shoot ourselves and the foot and risk losing the opportunity of doing something."
