For so many, Sunday is considered a day of rest.
And unfortunately for Squamish commuters, BC Transit is amongst them.
It’s mindboggling that in 2014 there is no bus service locally on Sundays, but it looks like that could finally be changing – at least maybe by the year 2040.
BC Transit was all over the Sea to Sky Corridor this past weekend to help develop a 25-year Transit Future Plan for the region. Based on feedback from users, new routes and services could be developed.
First on the block (with approved funding) could be the South Squamish Parks District line, which would connect Downtown Squamish to Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, the Sea to Sky Gondola and Shannon Falls Provincial Park.
It’s a great idea to link up these attractions to Downtown Squamish and maybe it could help build the growing numbers for local transit ridership.
The numbers have increased every year since 2008-09, topping off with ridership close to 250,000 this past year.
But on the horizon is the eventual (maybe) link to Metro Vancouver. According to BC Transit stats from 2011, more than 86 per cent of Squamish residents drive or are a passenger in a car to work. Any sort of ability to bus to Vancouver would likely carve a chunk out of that alarmingly high number.
I realize a big part of it is the lack of high paying local jobs, but if there was consistent, reliable transportation to Vancouver, I think it would be used and welcomed with open arms.
One of the benefits of the potential new line could be bringing staff to the gondola but it would also help families with only one car. It marks the second big move by BC Transit into Squamish, after the introduction of the Tantalus route in October 2013.
But lost in all the excitement over the new route and the dreams that the Sea to Sky Corridor could be connected to Vancouver is the simple fact that the buses lay dormant each and every Sunday.
Before we look ahead too much and think about 25-year plans, it would be a good move for transit in Squamish to be available seven days a week.
After all, some of us do more than just watch football in our underwear every Sunday.
