This letter was sent to West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre and copied to The Chief for publication.
I am a local commuter from Squamish who travels five nights per week to Whistler on the Sea to Sky commuter bus. Fees are about to be raised as of November 1, 2010 to prices that are outrageous and incomprehensible.
What I currently pay for a monthly pass ($145) will be sold at a cost for $232. This is a fare hike of $87 more per month.
Why it is that Squamish commuters, as well as others who use this service, are being gouged by rising costs when, for instance, the Pemberton-to-Whistler fees are not affected?
There is no reason for the raising of the fares to go to such a high rate, one that will leave many of us unable to use this service and be a danger to ourselves and others when we are forced to get back on the road to drive back and forth to work.
If you can remember why the commuter service was put in place to begin with then you will understand the importance of this service. It is with the terrible cost of seven lives one winter morning in 2004 when a mini-van struck an SUV.
The five people in the mini-van were heading back to Squamish from Whistler after a night of work. They had struck an SUV travelling north, killing themselves as well as the two occupants inside the SUV, one being 16 years of age.
It was a great tragedy and a huge loss which can never be recovered. However, it was also a wake-up call that safety on the highway was of huge importance.
The Sea to Sky commuter from Squamish to Whistler reduces accidents on Highway 99 as well as reduces insurance claims that, in 2004, averaged $10 million dollars per year.
Raising the fares will increase traffic on the highway once again as it will be cheaper to drive rather than commute on the bus causing fatigued drivers to heighten the chances of accidents that can lead to death.
This is an accident that can be prevented.
Whistler's Mayor Ken Melamed is ignorant to the fact that Whistlerites use this bus often to go shopping in Squamish, or to appointments, or to access services not available in Whistler.
There is also a couple of Whistlerites who travel from Whistler to Squamish on the Commuter bus to go to and from work in Squamish, as well as a couple of youth who are from Whistler that attend Howe Sound Secondary for their secondary education.
Finally, there are often times I see individuals catch the bus in Squamish - heading home to Whistler - who are thankful for the service as Greyhound has cut their routes significantly becoming a disservice.
Ms. McIntyre, I am pleading that the provincial government get involved and that you can assure your constituents fair and reasonable prices to commute as this promotes staying green, environmentally friendly, reducing the emissions on our highways, preventing insurance hikes related to accidents, as well as recognizing that Squamish makes up a huge percentage of the workforce in Whistler.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response in this matter. November 1, 2010 is coming quickly along with the unwanted and unnecessary fare hikes.
Michael Enders
Squamish
