Ashcroft and Clearwater mayors oppose B.C. Transit regional plan

The mayors of two small communities in B.C.'s Interior are concerned about plans to regionalize transit operating contracts in the area, which they believe will increase costs and reduce the quality of service their residents receive.

B.C. Transit says it is considering consolidating operating contracts for services in Kamloops, Merritt, Ashcroft, Clinton, Cache Creek and Clearwater.

"Regionalizing these operating contracts would better align transit services in the region, provide more service continuity for our customers and more long-term value for B.C. Transit and our local government partners," the Crown corporation said in an emailed statement to CBC.

But mayors are pushing back, arguing that their communities receive affordable, high-quality service as it is.

Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Rodenworriesa regionaltransit system would cost her community more.

"For a large system like Kamloops, there might possibly be some sort of savings," she told CBC's Daybreak Kamloops host Shelley Joyce.

She said that because Kamloops, a city of nearly 100,000, is part of the plan, smaller communities are concerned that the bigger city will take priority when it comes to service expansions.

"Our fear is that Kamloops is going to suck up all the oxygen in the room. And that when it comes to, say, expanding our services, maybe getting an extra bus or perhaps adding some hours to what we service, it'll be a case of, well, we can't do that because we're already overstretched."

Drivers know community members

Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says he's most worried about the quality of service that will be offered if a new provider comes into these communities.

Yellowhead Community Services provides transit for both the Clearwater and Ashcroft areas.

Roden said their drivers know everyone who rides the buses.

"They know their names. They know their birthdays. They know their needs if they need assistance getting to or from their house."

Blackwell added that they go out of their way to ensure riders are safe.

"We get a level of service that we're not going to get with a large regional company."

B.C. Transit said unionized employees already working in those small community transit systems would be offered comparable roles with the new provider, and for non-union employees already providing services, "it is B.C. Transit's expectation that first consideration would also be given to current employees where positions exist."

Pressure on government

Roden and Blackwell said representatives from their communities have expressed their concerns to Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, and the Thompson Nicola Regional District has sent a letter to the province and B.C. Transit asking them to visit their communities to meet drivers and better understand transit needs.

As Blackwell pointed out, there will be a new transportation minister soon, as Fleming won't be running in the fall provincial election.

"That doesn't mean the pressure is going to stop," Blackwell said.

He said he will continue to push against the plan to regionalize transit in his area.

"I don't see any benefits to this."

If regionalization does move forward, B.C. Transit said it won't start the request for proposal process until late 2025, and the new system would go into effect the following year.