More frequent bus service for Squamish may become a reality.
On Oct. 12, council voted unanimously in favour of giving BC Transit permission to ask the province for funding on its proposed plans for expansion.
The transit authority will have to wait and see if the province approves its request.
[BC Transit works in partnership with 59 local governments, including the District of Squamish. Local governments approve service levels and budgets annually and municipalities set fares and local property taxes to pay its contribution of transit costs.]
The January 2022 Squamish expansions include 1,500 service hours, one additional bus for conventional transit, and 850 service hours for HandyDART.
It's a development that comes as Squamish's public transit ridership numbers have shown a substantial recovery.
Statistics gathered on Sept. 26, show that ridership had rebounded to 90% of its pre-pandemic numbers. According to Bronson Bullivant, a senior planner with BC Transit, ridership recovered about 80% of 2019 levels in September.
"A very good news story there for Squamish," Bullivant said.
If the province approves BC Transit's funding request, it will help implement a few highlighted changes.
These expansions planned for January 2022 were originally anticipated in 2020 to 2021 but were deferred due to COVID-19.
First, the expansion will involve separating the combination trips for Routes 1 and 2 Brackendale Highlands, which will increase frequency between downtown and Garibaldi Village.
It will also add to Route 2 Highlands on Sunday at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.
Another example will be creating more service hours during the day. This will be relevant to the Route 5 South Parks, a summer route that has traditionally had a lull in between its morning and later afternoon shifts. A newly-requested bus is expected to help fill in that gap.
HandyDART clients may also see weekend service improvements.
"With the 850 available annual hours, we will now be able to offer HandyDART service on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.," said Bullivant.
Bulivant said after listening to public engagement, BC Transit found that there were several priorities that people wanted for the transit system.
"The...goal... is to lead Squamish from a coverage-based system to a frequent transit corridor system," he said. "Those changes will require new routes and lots of hours."
As a first step, Bullivant said the priority is to increase service on Route 1 Brackendale and Route 2 Highlands.
"These hours and buses will enable the system to a combined 15-minute service between the two at peak travel times, which are considered to be 7 a.m to 9 a.m., as well as 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.," he said.
Bullivant noted that, on average in B.C.,15 minutes appears to be an optimal wait time that will encourage transit usage.
Mayor Karen Elliott asked if District staff have modelled their plans around that 15-minute number so that the municipality can reach its carbon-reduction goals by 2030.
Planner Dora Gunn said there's no exact equation that can make that happen, though there are ways to increase ridership.
She said staff will have to make incremental changes and monitor their effectiveness.
Ultimately, council voted unanimously in favour of giving BC Transit permission to ask the province for funding on these local projects.
Coun. Jenna Stoner did not vote, as she was away on maternity leave.
Elliott supported the motion but had some concerns.
She said the engagement survey noted non-riders said they'd prefer to ride the bus on Friday and Saturday at later times.
"I just wonder if, in future years, we're missing an opportunity to gain some ridership," she said.
She noted later rides would serve people working later shifts or people who want to have an evening drink downtown and get home at a reasonable time.
Take our poll on this issue: If you don't take the bus in Squamish, why not?
