After more than a year and a half of waiting, Eric Graham, Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) director for Pender Harbour/Egmont, says it's "all aboard" for the area's brand new community bus.
The long-awaited bus is expected to make its first scheduled run from the Madeira Park community hall to Egmont and Sechelt on Wednesday morning, Sept. 1, and run every Wed-nesday and Saturday thereafter during its trial period.
Graham said the bus budget for a trial puts it in a "use it or lose it" scenario, and its continued service will depend on usage.
"If it's continuously empty, then we're going to pull it, but if there is ridership, we will keep it running until election time. Then we have to go to the taxpayers in a referendum," he said.
Graham said the decision will likely be made in December whether to continue the trial, and that staff will monitor the expenses and income during 2011 to see if the cost can be justified.
Graham said the bus is going to be perfect for segments of Area A's population including people without licences or cars, seniors who prefer not to drive, kids who would be stuck at home on Saturdays and people who want to make the trip to Sechelt for shopping, the library or connecting with other buses.
"There are a lot of things down there that people would like to do that they can't do up here," Graham said.
He said he believes it will be well-used.
"It's a worthwhile service. We worked really hard as a community, [former director] John Rees and all the [advisory] committee members and a lot of staff have worked really hard to get this thing up and going, and it would be a shame if it didn't continue," he said. "There is a service that is needed up here and I believe it's going to be used, and I believe it's going to work. We're putting the ball in the court of the people in Pender Harbour."
Rees, who arranged for the purchase of the bus through a federal gas tax grant, said he plans to be on the first bus trip to Sechelt and he has high hopes for its continued use.
"It's a good opportunity. Personally, I see it going to more than two days a week, maybe three or four days a week," Rees said. "I certainly hope the community supports this thing and we'll see how it goes along."
For the bus schedule, call 604-885-6899.
