Prince George Gets $ 1.1 Million For New Buses

Monday, April 21, 2008 01:00 PM

Deputy Premier, Shirley Bond, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and B.C. Transit President Manuel Achadinha on board one of the type of buses that will be purchased for Prince George.
PRINCE GEORGE , B.C. -Prince George will receive $1.1 millionn dollars for two new buses in the city. The money is part of the $20.5 milllion dollars announced today in Prince George by Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.

The Province of British Columbia is providing $20.5 million in additional funding to BC Transit this fiscal year as part of its plan to improve public transit in communities throughout the province, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and BC Transit president Manuel Achadinha announced today.

"We're committed to getting people out of their cars and trucks and onto public transit in regions throughout British Columbia," Falcon said. "More frequent transit service is key to increasing ridership and is a significant part of our Provincial Transit Plan."

Of the provincial funding announced today, $9.1 million is earmarked for a 10 per cent increase in BC Transit's bus services, while $11.4 million will help pay for 48 new buses for 26 transit systems.

One of the transit systems benefiting from the increased funding will be in Prince George. BC Transit and Prince George city staff are currently developing plans for a six per cent increase in service to various areas throughout the city, including the route to the University of Northern B.C. Two additional buses will be added to the fleet. Total cost of the service increase is $1,118,400.

The Province of B.C. is providing $555,400 to support the improved service, including $123,000 for operating costs and $432,400 to purchase the buses. Prince George is contributing $141,000 to operating costs and $487,600 to the purchase of the buses.

Undergraduate students at UNBC recently voted 70% in favour of a universal bus pass, or U-Pass, which will cost each student $48 a term for unlimited travel on Prince George's transit system. Mayor Colin Kinsley says the students priove that taking transit is no longer the "Loser cruiser, rather it's using a 40 foot limosine."

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Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 01:00 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: lostfaith on April 21 2008 1:38 PM

Good deal. I can't use public transit to get to and from work, because I would have to be on a bus for half an hour and arrive at my place of employement one hour before I start work. I can drive and be there in 7 minutes, 7 minutes before my start time. Seems to me any buses I have seen around town hardly have anyone on board. Bus after bus goes by my place with no one riding.
1.1 million would fix up a lot of potholes.

Posted by: elanke on April 21 2008 2:35 PM

I am one of the "lucky" students that has to pay $48 per semester for a service that doesn't exist for me. I live south of town, (actually about 300 meters from the town border). There is no service south of the bridges. Like lostfaith, I see buses running around with half a dozen passengers...I've never seen one full.

But, I guess we have to realize where the politicians are coming from. Fixing potholes or something similarly useful is not going to provide the photo opportunities that a new bus will!!

Posted by: Jigga on April 21 2008 3:13 PM

they say 1.3 million rides on the transit system this year...so some of those buses somewhere must be full.

did you ever hear of 'build it and they will come'?

Posted by: Palopu on April 21 2008 4:46 PM

Jigga. 1.3 Million is a big number but it means nothing.

1.3 Million divided by 365 days per year equals 3562 riders per day. Divide
3562 by 12 Hours per day and you have 297 passengers per hour. Divide 297 by at least 15 buses and you have 20 passengers per bus per hour. 20 per bus is a high number. Some would have more, some less. Each bus is designed to handle approx 48 passengers, more if you count standing room

What this means is that our busses are totally under utilized.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 21 2008 5:08 PM

Skytrain to Beaverly. Will no one listen?

Posted by: Runner46 on April 21 2008 6:18 PM

I started taking the bus last week, and it is great.

Posted by: metalman on April 21 2008 6:27 PM

"we're committed to getting people out of their cars"...etc etc..
As usual, they can't see the forest because the trees are in the way. New buses and a whopping six percent increase in routes will not get many bums out of car seats and into a bus. It is of course not feasible to service outlying areas of the city, nor the pockets of population (Salmon valley, beaverly, pineview etc.) We are too spread out, and I suppose the hard truth is that gas is still affordable (come on admit it) I still see plenty of young looking people driving old cars and pick ups, and we know that they are good for about ten or twelve miles per imperial gallon, at $5.76/gal. It costs us a lot more than we want to pay, but a lot of us are still driving. Would I take the bus if I could? Yes, some of the time. They don't service within about 12-15 kms of my home, so it is a non issue for me, but I think a lot more P.G. citizens could be bussing.
metalman.

Posted by: lmorg on April 21 2008 7:21 PM

We don't need more diseal belching buses, we need a better bus schedule. Shorter breaks for the drivers who spend up to half and hour for coffee while people at future stops wait and wait and wait. In larger centres, if you miss a bus, another is along in about 20 minutes...

Posted by: seamutt on April 21 2008 8:49 PM

Look how they smile while putting it to us.

Posted by: tinyapplecork on April 21 2008 9:51 PM

Wow I didn't know I was getting shafted AGAIN! Why do CNC students have to pay $105 dollars per term while UNBC only pays $48? So...we're subsidizing? ARRRRRRRGH!

Posted by: red2b on April 22 2008 6:16 AM

Metalman wrote "As usual, they can't see the forest because the trees are in the way." What trees? You can see the bus coming for miles!
Palpou- Are all the passengers spread over 12 hrs. I think most would be over a maybe 3 hr. period in AM and again in PM. Still, buses are way under used and it is surprising to add another.
"Look how they smile while putting it to us." They smile because the enjoy "it"

Posted by: metalman on April 22 2008 8:29 AM

I see from this morning's Citizen newspaper(aka bird cage tray liner) that there is no actual increase in the number of routes, in their "6% increase in service". Rather, they are improving the service to the already subsidized unbc students. I don't suppose ordinary citizens (of the tax paying variety) are entitled to an unlimited bus & swimming pool pass for $48.00/3 months, are we? I am not and do not knock the students, but the subsidy amounts to bribery in my mind, they not only get the bus pass for about half price, the infinitely wise city powers further sweeten the pot by throwing in free swimming. All I am saying is "BE FAIR" If you give something to one class of citizen, make it available to others.
I suppose the powers can claim this 'initiative' as a success if they get more bums and bummettes into bus seats, but I don't suppose they will mention that they could only achieve that by massive subsidies. Gee whiz, I wish it was that simple in the private sector, but then we do not have the bottomless coffers to fund our every mistake.
metalman.

Posted by: duffer on April 22 2008 9:30 AM

For any bus route I have seen we could use the small buses like the Handidart uses. They hold about 20 people and would cost a lot less to purchase and maitain than the large ones we see with usually 5 - 10 people on them.

Posted by: Jigga on April 22 2008 10:03 AM

metalman...

ordinary citizens would be entitled to the $48 pass...but it would mean EVERYONE would have to pay it. thats how those programs work, they are not optional and they encourage transit use. individual students don't get to decide if they want the pass...they pay regardless, which makes many of them jump on a bus once in while because they are already paying for it. i highly doubt PG could win a referendum with all citizens that would support such a venture. thats why you cant get it.

Posted by: Jigga on April 22 2008 10:05 AM

tinyapplecork...

i am sure the same plan would be available to CNC students...but your Student Union has to want to pursue it.

thats what we did up at UNBC, got our Student Society on board and then a student referendum was held. CNC could do the same.

Posted by: metalman on April 22 2008 12:39 PM

Thanks for the informed reply Jigga. So do you mean to imply that $48.00 per registered student covers the cost of the subsidy? I hear what you say about how it is now a negative option, that not every student can avail themselves of the bus service, and not every student necessarily wants to either. I would submit that non students who ride the bus would probably be glad to get their pass for half price, and free swimming thrown in. I understand how the subsidy works, I just wanted to comment on the fact that not every potential bus rider is being treated equally. Thank you.
metalman.

Posted by: Jigga on April 22 2008 2:29 PM

Transit seems to be heavily subsidized everywhere no matter what you do. I don't think any fare rate covers the subsidy. But what do I know.

I use the local transit discussion forum run by the City to keep up to date on local developments (and to complain once in a while).

Heres the link:

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/city_services/transportation/transit/forum/index.php

Posted by: Jigga on April 22 2008 2:30 PM

oops, try again

[url]http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/city_services/transportation/transit/forum/index.php[url]

Posted by: Jigga on April 22 2008 2:31 PM

last attempt

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/city_services/transportation/transit/forum/index.php