Skip to content

Sea to Sky governments and First Nations united on regional transit

A committee was formed in a step toward creating the required transit governance body
1

Local municipalities and First Nations are starting to move in lockstep towards regional transit in the Sea to Sky.

Governments in the area formed a committee that’s expected start talking with the province.

The District of Squamish hailed this as a move towards creating a regional transit commission that would govern transit in the corridor.

Creating a commission is one of the key requirements of a having regional transit in the Sea to Sky.

The committee is made up of representatives from the District of Squamish, Líl’wat Nation, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Squamish Nation, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) and the Village of Pemberton.

These communities are still working towards putting a funding model forward to the province.

How the bill is split between the local governments and the province has been a consistent stumbling block on regional transit for years.

It’s unclear if any headway has been made with respect this this issue.

On the table is a new motor fuel tax to help offset the cost of the service.

The District says the proposed funding model will aim to minimize the impact on property taxes to as great a degree as possible. Other regions of B.C. use motor fuel taxes as a form of transit funding.

If regional transit does happen, it’s expected to have the following service hours:

— 15,100 annual service hours (8 buses) initially

—  Six round-trips per day Mt. Currie / Pemberton to Whistler (an increase of 2 round-trips per day over the current service of four round-trips per day)

— Six round-trips per weekday Whistler / Squamish / Metro Vancouver

— Four round-trips per weekend day Whistler / Squamish/ Metro Vancouver

— Growing to 25,100 annual service hours (13 buses) by the third year

— Growing to 30,100 annual service hours (16 buses) by the fifth year

 

 

 

 

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks