Potential transit service options identified for Sea to Sky corridor

BC Transit and its Sea to Sky local government partners have released a study showing there is public interest in a potential transit service connecting the communities along the Sea to Sky corridor, from Metro Vancouver to the Pemberton Valley.

The Sea to Sky Corridor Regional Transit Study was a collaborative effort involving the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, the District of Squamish, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, the Village of Pemberton, the Lil’wat and Squamish Nations, BC Transit, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and TransLink.

The Sea to Sky Corridor Regional Transit Study, released on October 18, 2017, is based on a market demand analysis and on feedback gathered during a two-phase public engagement process. It outlines proposed transit service concepts that would potentially allow BC Transit to run between Whistler, Squamish and Metro Vancouver, and to improve existing service between Whistler and Pemberton. Details include proposals about potential routing, bus stop locations and infrastructure requirements.

The Province of British Columbia and the Sea to Sky local government partners will work together to review and develop a governance and funding model. Once a governance and funding model is established service implementation work can begin.

If the proposed service is implemented, the study suggests providing approximately 15,000 annual hours of transit service to the corridor. This initial proposed service would consist of six round trips on weekdays and four round trips on weekends between Whistler, Squamish and Metro Vancouver, where passengers would be able to transfer to the TransLink system. The study also proposes adding two new daily round trips to the existing service between the Pemberton Valley and Whistler.

The study can be viewed online at https://bctransit.com/sea-to-sky/home

Quotes:

“Our government is committed to making life more affordable and improving the services people rely on, and a good transportation system that meets people’s needs is essential to these goals. That is why we are dedicated to expanding transit service along the corridor – to better connect communities and help get people to and from their jobs, affordably and with ease.”
~Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“BC Transit is pleased to see there is public interest in and support for this potential new service. We look forward to working with our partners on the next steps, and to seek the most efficient and effective way to connect people and communities along the Sea to Sky Corridor.”

~Manuel Achadinha, President and Chief Executive Officer of BC Transit

“The District of Squamish has long been an advocate of regional transit to address increased congestion and adverse environmental effects from heavy highway traffic accessing the corridor for recreation and tourism, and to offer a greener option for residents who commute via the highway to work. We remain committed to working with our partners to move this project forward, and to build a more connected, sustainable Sea to Sky Corridor.”

~ Patricia Heintzman, District of Squamish Mayor

“The SLRD Board has long advocated for a convenient, reliable and affordable regional transit service to connect the communities of the Sea to Sky Corridor. We remain committed to this goal, and we look forward to working with our partners to develop a fair and financially sustainable funding model that works for our residents and communities.”

~Jack Crompton, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District Board Chair

“The Resort Municipality of Whistler is committed to our partnership with BC Transit. Over the past 25 years, our local Whistler Transit System has grown to support nearly three million passengers per year within Whistler. We look forward to working with our neighbouring communities and BC Transit to find a sustainable solution for regional transit options while continuing to maintain and grow our local transit system.

~Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, Resort Municipality of Whistler Mayor

“The Village is pleased to be working with our Sea to Sky partners and BC Transit to seek a regional solution for the provision of transit. We thank the community for being a part of this important discussion. Now that we have this valuable data, we can develop an implementation plan that will result in improvements locally and regionally. This is a priority of our Council, residents and businesses; seeking a means to easily move throughout the corridor in a more sustainable, cleaner way.”

~Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor

“For Líl̓wat Nation, the STS Transit Study’s suggestion to increase in the number of trips between Pemberton and Whistler, and those continuing onto Squamish and Vancouver, is extremely positive. Like many First Nations, access to reliable transportation is an issue for Líl̓wat. The recommendations of the study, if implemented, will help address this major barrier to employment and mobility that Lil̓wat7úl face.”

~Skalúlmecw Chief Dean Nelson Líl̓wat Nation

“TransLink is supportive of an interregional service that will connect the Sea to Sky Corridor to our service area and decrease the number of single occupant vehicles. We look forward to taking part in future conversations about this initiative and will work to make connections as seamless as possible.”

~Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink

Quick facts:

Completion of the Sea to Sky Corridor Regional Transit study marks an important next step towards developing regional and interregional transit service along the Sea to Sky Corridor.
The service proposal and business case described in the study are based on a market demand analysis and on a two-phase public engagement carried in early 2017, which revealed the potential for ridership along the Corridor.
The study aligns with the Sea to Sky Transit Future Plan, which provides a guide for regional transit investments over the next 25 years.
BC Transit and its partners will work together to select governance and funding models to determine the feasibility of the proposed service as outlined in this study.

Backgrounders:

Sea to Sky Transit Future Plan

Sea to Sky Transit Future Plan – Executive Summary

Sea to Sky Corridor Regional Transit Study

Learn more:

Details, background and updates on the planning process for transit service along the Sea to Sky corridor: bctransit.com/seatosky

Information on current transit service in the Pemberton and Mt. Currie, including commuter service to Whistler Village: bctransit.com/pemberton-valley

Potential transit service options identified for Sea to Sky corridor

Post your comment

Comments