PRINCE GEORGE – The City of Prince George has made the decision commit five years of funding towards the transit component of the BC government’s Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan.
During a recent city council meeting, Mayor Lyn Hall and council approved an increase to its financial support from one year to five years. Prince George will invest $50,000 annually into the transit service.
Councils in Smithers, Telkwa, Fraser Lake, Granisle and Houston have all committed to supporting Highway 16 inter-community transit between Burns Lake and Smithers and Burns Lake and Prince George. The remaining two councils will meet in February.
As part of the $5-million Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan, the BC government committed funding to BC Transit over three years to support enhanced transit service. As discussions have taken place with local regional districts, municipalities and First Nations along the corridor, BC Transit and the ministry have been asked for a longer-term commitment to these services. The BC government has now committed to fund a 4th and 5th year of transit operations.
For the expanded transit services, 100% of the vehicles are being covered, and the Province is funding two-thirds of the operating costs. Local governments, through regional districts, are working together to share costs for their one-third share of the operating costs.
On Jan. 30, 2017, the first expanded-transit services started running, between Smithers and Moricetown. More local communities are expected to sign on for the new and expanded-transit services in the coming weeks.
