EDITOR,
Sea to Sky Transit, the service between Squamish and Whistler, is in crisis. People in Whistler and Squamish use the buses to commute, shop, use government and medical services and for recreation. If you don't have a car, you already know how important transit is. If you have no interest in using transit, each bus can remove over 30 cars from the traffic you drive in.
On Oct. 25, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) passed a motion, "That staff be directed to generate high level cost estimates for inter-city transit for Response Options 1-3." The first option builds on the existing commuter services connecting Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. The second option adds service between Squamish and Horseshoe Bay. The third option looks at service to remaining areas, including Lillooet, which now have no transit service at all.
On November 22, SLRD staff reported to the board that information and questions from B.C. Transit are being distributed to municipalities within the SLRD. Staff hope to be able to report back to the board at the January meeting.
People - you and I - need to make sure that our voices are heard. For more than five years, Sea to Sky Transit saw no changes in trip times. Tell your municipalities what times you need to travel. For more than five years, there was only one fare increase, 50 cents, in 2008. Low revenue contributed to the panic-driven 60 per cent increase this winter. Fair fares are essential to provide revenue to the operator and incentive to the public. Reduced service will continue between January and March. What then?
If you live in Pincrest or Black Tusk, tell the SLRD what you think about transit buses that drive by your homes without stopping. If you live in Lillooet, tell the SLRD what it's like living in a community two hours from medical and government services, that can only be reached by car. Should people in Cheakamus Crossing have to travel to Creekside to catch a bus going to Squamish? Do people in Brackendale need access to bus service to Whistler? If you commute from Squamish, what time do you want to arrive and depart Whistler? If you live in Whistler, where do you want to go in Squamish and when?
Sea to Sky Transit, between Squamish and Whistler, is not the only Inter-community transit in the SLRD. It may not be the most important service needed in the SLRD. At the moment, it is piviotal for the future of transit within our district. If it succeeds, it will be an example of what can be done. If it fails, it may be another decade before anyone has the courage to look at regional transit again.Write, email and talk to your elected representatives within the SLRD, your municipal government and the Province.Murray GambleSquamish
