The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board doesn't want Greyhound reducing service in the area.
Image Credit: SOURCE/Wikipedia
July 13, 2013 - 6:16 AM
THOMPSON-NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRCIT – In June Greyhound Canada announced it was applying to remove stops along some routes in the region and board chair Randy Murray has sent a letter to the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board and local MLAs voicing concern the board has over the decision.
In June letters outlining the closures and inviting comments were sent to the district. On the Kamloops to Kelowna route the Monte Creek and Kelowna Airport points are set to be removed and on the Alberta Border/Hwy 1 to Vancouver route the Monte Creek route is to be removed while the Chilliwack route point would see reduced frequency.
The board is concerned that rural residents without drivers' licenses, who do not own vehicles or prefer not to drive in certain weather will not have any alternatives.
“Bus travel is a vital service to those residents who are infirm, elderly or can't afford other modes of travel.” Murray says in the letter, “Should Greyhound proceed with their plan to abandon rural routes, many rural residents may be forced to relocate to urban centres.”
The board hopes the routes changes will not be approved and if they are there will be a review of the monopoly on bus transportation to help find local solutions.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013