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Greyhound’s plan to slash bus routes around B.C. was made official Wednesday, and mayors of the two largest Similkameen communities are disappointed.
Among the bus company’s cuts are its route from Osoyoos to Vancouver, which will eliminate service to Keremeos, Hedley, Princeton, Eastgate and Manning Park on May 31.
The decision was approved by the province’s Passenger Transportation Board.
“We’re disappointed that the (PTB) obviously did not listen to all the letters that were sent throughout the region,” said Manfred Bauer, Keremeos mayor and vice-chair of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen.
“In the Similkameen, we’re left with absolutely no way of reaching the Lower Mainland via public transportation.”
Bauer also said a lack of direct communication from decision makers was disappointing — which continued when the bus cuts announcement was made on Wednesday.
“They did not contact us, they did not consult us… I heard about it through the news just like anybody else.”
Princeton Mayor Frank Armitage made a motion months ago that the provincial government needed to get involved in fighting Greyhound’s proposed cuts.
He was equally discouraged the Similkameen route couldn’t be salvaged, and said he’s displeased by a lack of leadership through the process from the provincial government.
“What bothers me, quite honestly… is where do we go from here now? Who contacts who? Let’s get organized and do it… We’re not going to let this die quietly, it’s too important to our region.”
The Ministry of Transportation told Castanet in December it has mulled the possibility of funding a private company to provide a rural bus service — indicating, however, that they wouldn’t decide anything until after the PTB’s decision.
Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in a news release the bus cuts are “unfortunate.”
She said she plans to meet soon with local governments and other people who will be affected “to ensure continued bus service remains in place for those who depend on it.”
Bauer said a letter has already been sent to Trevena to rehash the urgent need to come up with a bus service plan.
He added he’ll be meeting with Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson on Friday with the goal of furthering the need for urgent action.
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