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B.C. Transit to be Pushed for Funding

By Elaine Macdonald

Monday, February 13, 2006 05:17 PM

Councilor Don Zurowski  wants B.C. Transit to make their funding "fair".

For every dollar a rider puts into the fare box, the  various levels of government put in three, still, Councilor Zurowski says  Prince George is not getting a fair shar.

The funding is based on a formula that  balances ridership and population, still, Zurowski says Prince George has made efforts to improve its service and the funding from B.C. Transit  is (in his estimation) about $13 dollars per capita, while in Kamloops and Kelowna, its $20. That, says Zurowski, amounts to a  difference of $900,000.

Mayor Colin Kinsley  noted Prince George has  received some benefits in other areas, for example, a boost in dollars  to cover rising fuel costs so in his words,  any request would have to be "subtle".  Yet, Council has approved sending a letter to the Transit Commission asking for funding equality.  

Mayor Kinsley noted this is likely the third time Councilor Zurowski has pushed this matter  "I will say this" said Kinsley to Zurowski "You are tenacious!"

The Mayor will take the request to the next meeting of the Transit Commission.


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Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 05:17 PM in News by Elaine Macdonald

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Gofaster on February 13 2006 7:54 PM
Hey Kinsley better that than you taking all these taxpayer paid holidays.
Comment Posted by: Palopu on February 15 2006 7:08 PM
If we increased our ridership then under the present formula we would get the same amount of funding as Kamloops, or more. It is a question of ridership, and as we know the buses in Prince George run empty most of the time, therefore are we asking for more money to run more empty busses?

A more comprehensive system would make more sense, like subcontracting most of the Busing to the School Bus Co., when they are idle, and in some instances set up smaller busses with shorter routes. We have hundreds of School Busses sitting empty between 9am and 3pm Monday through Friday. After 430pm Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Im sure that with a little ingenuity, these busses could be utilized and we could reduce our costs by at least 50%. Fat Chance that will ever happen.