The possibility has opened up for extending the Sunshine Coast Regional District's (SCRD) public transit services to Pender Harbour and Egmont.
Whether the bus service would be implemented in the area would depend on community support of the proposal and SCRD board support and whether a BC Transit subsidy will be coming in. Currently, the SCRD bus service reaches up the Coast as far as Halfmoon Bay.
The proposal is among the service improvements laid out in the SCRD's draft five-year plan, which will be going back to the board for review and approval, according to SCRD transportation manager Brian Sagman.
The service would be jointly funded by the SCRD through Area A (Pender Harbour/Egmont) taxation and a possible BC Transit subsidy. The service would take a year to implement, Sagman said. The service would likely start off with a Handydart vehicle running two days a week back and forth to Sechelt. The first step is to survey the communities' residents and lay out the costs to see whether they are interested, Sagman said. The proposal would go through an alternate approval process in the communities - a reverse voting process.
John Rees, SCRD chair and Area A director, said he always promised he would try to get the area an affordable transportation system that had subsidies. The service would provide greater access - especially for seniors - to medical appointments and businesses that are otherwise unavailable in Area A, he noted.
"It's a move in the right direction for seniors," Rees said. He is seeking feedback from the Area A community whether it is in favour. If he hears reasonable support and not too much opposition, he said, the idea would go to detailed planning. Then the plans would go to the community, followed by an alternate approval process, he explained. The estimated total annual cost would be $73,000, including estimated fare revenue of $5,000, net cost of $68,000, possible BC Transit subsidy of $29,000 and approximate cost to Area A taxpayers of $39,000.
The proposed route could travel from Trail Bay Centre in Sechelt to Egmont and back, with possible designated stops in Garden Bay, Kleindale and Madeira Park.
BC Transit's manager of planning for municipal systems Helen Cook said the SCRD would first have to approve the plan, then request BC Transit to fund an increase in service. The SCRD's subsidy request would be for next year's budget, she added.
