Local NDP MP urges the Passenger Transportation Board to refuse Greyhound’s application to reduce service in southern BC
Castlegar, BC – Alex Atamanenko, MP – BC Southern Interior – According to the application summary found on the British Columbia Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) website, Greyhound Canada is applying to reduce service from two daily busses going in each direction through the riding of BC Southern en route to Vancouver or Calgary to one.
“Although this matter falls within provincial jurisdiction, if the application is successful, the result will have a profoundly negative effect on people throughout this riding,” said Alex Atamanenko, NDP MP for BC Southern Interior. “I’m hearing that people and businesses count on these busses and any reduction of this service will be a hardship for many.”
“The bus is my only transit and transportation connection for the holidays, to participate in workshops and health forums. Greyhound may be a private corporation but it is the only bus available connecting our communities and highways,” said Shawna Schuh, resident of Grand Forks and a person with a disability, in a recent email to Atamanenko’s office.
Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West, also told Atamanenko, “I am very concerned about the proposed cuts to the Greyhound service levels in this area. I hope that the BC Passenger Transportation Safety Board takes a careful look at how this will impact people in the Kootenays”.
Changes may include having to stay extra nights in Kelowna or Vancouver because of the time of day when the “once a day bus” will leave or waiting several hours to make connections to Vancouver Island. Scheduling appointments in the larger centers, while not easy now, could become even harder with reduced access to Greyhound’s service.
The people of Princeton have already experienced loss of service to their area. According to the mayor, Randy McLean, regionalization of medical and other government services has led to seniors and those with disabilities facing more complications and increased expenses when trying to organize appointments around the new Greyhound schedule than they did previous to the changes.
“The Greyhound run from Calgary along Highway 3, through the various smaller communities, to Vancouver, was once the highest revenue producing run in Canada for Greyhound,” he says.
“After the changes were implemented, the bus service became more difficult to use for those living along Highway 3, ridership was reduced and now Greyhound wants to further cut the service. Since Greyhound holds a monopoly on these routes, they have the responsibility to serve everyone in the region,” McLean added.
Atamanenko says that he is aware that regional districts, municipalities, organizations and individuals through the region are making their views known to the PTB. He feels that it’s important to speak up now in an effort to preserve the convenience and access that is presently available.
“The proposed reduction of service by Greyhound is just not acceptable,” Atamanenko concluded.
The deadline for public comment on Greyhound’s application to the Passenger Transportation Board is June 17, 2009. According to their website (http://www.ptboard.bc.ca/), interested parties may submit written comments to:
Passenger Transportation Board
PO Box 9850 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 9T5
Fax: 250-953-3788
Email: ptboard@gov.bc.ca
Please quote “application X71-09”
Tags: bus