In the wake of diminished southbound commuting options due to reduced Greyhound bus services, council for the District of Squamish continued their quest to find a solution during the Tuesday (Jan. 26) council meeting.
Executives from the Jack Bell Ride Share program told council this week the municipality should consider investing half a million dollars into carpooling.
Executive director Leon Teubes said expanding the existing Squamish program could help more than 164 commuters who are currently unable to use the service due to scheduling and routing problems.
Project manager Daryl Novak said a $560,000 investment over a five-year period, would partially fund the purchase of 20 new vans to service Squamish residents. With the proposed flexible program, at least two seats in each vehicle would be kept free for occasional passengers.
"So we'd have seats available everyday for people who don't necessarily commute to Vancouver five days a week at a specific time," Teubes said.
In response to a question from Coun. Patricia Heintzman, Teubes said the program calculates its carbon reduction, but added he did not have the exact figures with him at the moment.
Coun. Rob Kirkham requested additional information on how the expanded service could anticipate carpooling times and routes. Novak said much of the structure regarding when and where the car pools would pick up and drop off would be dictated through user demand. He said several pick up points would be identified across town enabling last minute passengers to test their luck and wait at the stop in hopes of grabbing a spare seat.
"Obviously with the existing fleet it's easy - everyone drives everyday. The challenge comes with the ad hoc arrivers," Teubes added.
In response to Coun. Doug Race's query, Teubes said it the district's expenditure would be a one-time investment only. He said the municipality would need to fund the program until 100 per cent ridership was achieved, creating a self-sustaining program.
Teubes emphasized any revenue generated would be re-applied to the program by subsidizing the trip for the volunteer drivers or by helping reduce rider fees during gas peak times.
"We're a non-profit organization so we're not allowed to make profit from this fleet, so whatever money is in surplus goes into a fund and is somehow reapplied to the operation of the fleet," Teubes. "Which makes it very cost effective."
Coun. Paul Lalli suggested the program could accommodate Vancouver-bound residents with medical appointments, and Teubes said people would be able to go online the night before they need to travel and book a seat.
"But would they have to take it early in the morning and then come back later in the evening?" Lalli asked.
Teubes said the ride share program would only have vehicles 6 to 8 a.m. heading southbound and 3 to 5 p.m. northbound.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale argued council must consider bringing more jobs to town rather than just searching for transportation options.
"Maybe our whole problem is we need to be providing jobs here in Squamish," she said. "We need to take people off the highway - period. I'm concerned that we're still saying 'Come on move to Squamish and hit the highway and drive back and forth.'"
However she did suggest a full time driver could be hired for pick-ups everyday to provide residents with a reliable transit option.
Teubes said the program would become more expensive if a driver was hired.
Teubes said Mayor Greg Gardner's suggestion that city-based employers fund the program was possible but unlikely in this particular case.
Council unanimously supported a motion directing staff to investigate the presented information and additional carpooling alternatives.
