Whereas adding more routes between our rural communities and more trips on existing routes will benefit our health system by helping seniors and others access healthcare services; And whereas reliable regional rural transit is a critical component of a British Columbia wide affordable housing strategy; And whereas improving our rural transit systems will deliver significant economic benefits by providing more reliable transportation for students and frontline workers; And whereas an expanded rural transit system will deliver significant GHG reduction, by shifting kilometers travelled from costly and polluting single-occupancy vehicles to high-occupancy buses: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to provide sufficient additional funding to double services in British Columbia regional rural transit systems.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Reliable and affordable rural transportation coverage is something people need to travel for work, to appointments, and to see loved ones. Government is committed to looking for solutions that will maintain and improve passenger transportation connections that support British Columbians. BC Transit currently provides service in over 130 communities across the province, including regional routes and services in rural areas. In these communities, the provincial government shares the cost of transit services with local governments. Decisions on service levels, routes and fares are made by the local government partners based on public feedback and information provided by BC Transit. Following the loss of Greyhound as an inter-city bus carrier in 2018, the ministry encouraged private operators to apply for passenger transportation licenses under a fast-tracked process. As part of the StrongerBC plan, Government provided 6.2 million to 20 inter-city bus operators in 202122 to help them remain operational through the pandemic recovery period. In 2021, the Province and the federal government provided 7.9 million to Northern Development Initiative Trust NDIT to provide safe, reliable and affordable transportation services in northern BC. In 2023 an additional 5.25 million was provided to NDIT to continue BC Bus North and the Northern Community Shuttle Program through 202627 and support development of a trip planning and booking platform for Northern BC. 2.5 million was also provided to three regional economic development trusts, NDIT, Economic Trust of the Southern Interior and Island Coastal Economic Trust, to conduct regional engagement and for other tangible initiatives that support regional passenger transportation. The three trusts are administering grant programs to support planning and capacity for passenger transportation services. Information learned from the regional economic trusts, along with other research, analysis and engagement, will help inform the approach we take to addressing rural transit and transportation needs. We are committed to continuing to support existing services, and where needed, to looking at ways to improve passenger transportation options that support British Columbians.