Editor's note: This letter was sent to the board of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
In 2006, "Transit Implementation Guidelines for Small Canadian Municipalities" compared the Sea to Sky Corridor with the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado.
Aspen is similar to Whistler from the standpoint of having a major ski base in town as well as a second major ski base at Snowmass - some distance from Aspen and two other ski bases nearby at Buttermilk and Highlands.
One of the biggest differences between the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Roaring Fork Valley is the nearly 40-year history of the Roaring Fork Transit Authority. We can learn a lot from them and from Kings Transit, in Nova Scotia, which has existed since 1981 and Sunshine Coast Transit, which started in 1989. We are not charting unexplored territory.
Until then, we can have inter-community transit by placing the two existing commuter services under an SLRD umbrella, combining and extending trips and producing and promoting a combined schedule. As the system grows, we can extend service to other parts of the SLRD.
The West Vancouver Transit Authority operates more 110 bus trips to downtown Vancouver every day. The No. 257 makes 30 trips from Horseshoe Bay along the Upper Levels Highway. The No. 250, also from Horseshoe Bay, makes 39 trips along Marine Drive. Both routes stop at Park Royal Mall and use dedicated bus lanes to get on and off Lions Gate Bridge.
Perhaps the SLRD should lead negotiations to have West Vancouver Transit operate Route No. 299 to Squamish and eventually to Whistler. They already have the facilities, infrastructure and experience. During peak times, some buses could operate directly from Squamish to Vancouver, bypassing Horseshoe Bay. Others could connect with No. 250 or No. 257 buses in Horseshoe Bay. Squamish passengers would not have to change buses.
Promotion, advertising, marketing. Since any revenue from fares is applied against the municipal contribution, it would seem that the municipal partner would be the one to benefit from promotion, advertising and marketing. A regional approach, promoted by the SLRD, would seem to be the most cost effective.
In records kept since early October, more than 50 per cent of riders on the 7:45 am bus from Whistler are beginning their trip from Whistler. On the 9:30 p.m. bus from Squamish, more than 30 per cent of riders are returning to Whistler. These levels have been maintained even though there is no promotion of the Squamish Commuter in Whistler. People have learned about the bus by word-of-mouth. This clearly indicates that there is a need for transit within the SLRD.
Until we actually have a regional transit system, combining and extending the existing commuter services and promoting them can provide three northbound and three southbound trips between Squamish and Pemberton every day. This could easily be extended to Mount Currie and Britannia Beach. These changes would also provide an evening service from Whistler to Pemberton. Changes to existing routes can include communities not currently served and destinations not currently reached. An additional small change would provide evening service within Squamish.Murray GambleSquamish
