By Rob Weys
Published: Feb. 18, 2012
A commuter bus from Squamish to Vancouver is possible in the near future if enough local residents, SLRD, and district of Squamish got on board the idea.
Eric Andersen, Moe Freitag, and Murray Gamble and I were some of the Squamish residents that were part of Translink public consultations at the Pinnacle Hotel in North Vancouver on Wed, Feb.15.
Sadly, no one from the district of Squamish was there to attend the meeting.
The Translink meeting was aimed at gauging public interest in various routes as part of a forthcoming North Shore Area Transit Plan.
The Squamish commuter link route was one of the 50 routes being proposed, although it must be made clear it is all at discussion stage only.
Of these 50, ten sample plans were presented at the Wednesday TransLink meeting. Support for the Squamish route was evident in an informal survey conducted in the room.
Translink estimate ridership to be up by 50 per cent in the coming few years. If it comes to operation, the Sea to Sky route would start in Squamish, stop in Britannia Beach, Furry Creek, Lions Bay, Park Royal and end in downtown Vancouver.
If it came to fruition, the Sea to Sky route would be served by a limited stop, rush-hour only, commuter bus service, said Drew Snider, public information officer for TransLink.
But before a commuter bus from Squamish to Vancouver starts to operate, considerable hurdles remain, he added.
First, it would need to be supported by BC Transit, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) , and the District of Squamish.
Second, TransLink would have to do a detailed study on its financial, social and environmental viability.
Snider said the idea for such a commuter bus came out of recent meetings with stakeholders.
Residents who want a commuter bus to Vancouver should comment on TransLink website at transink.ca/nsatp.
“Make a comment, speak to the Mayor and express your views BC Transit,” he said.
Local transit advovate Murray Gamble, who has by now attended two such meetings, said he hopes residents will show their support by calling councillors and by leaving comments on TransLink website.
The commuter bus that connects Squamish and Vancouver will be a great asset for students, commuters, and even tourists.
At the meeting on Wednesday, a TransLink official joked that they will decide the new routes by “scissors, paper, rock.”
I hope the Squamish commuter bus route to Vancouver turns out to be the ‘rock’.
–With files from Gagandeep Ghuman
Canvas Prints Cheap says
Hola! I’ve been following your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!
Ed Alder says
BEWARE!!!!! Translink wants YOUR gas taxes!!! you think fuel prices are high now! Sea to Sky prices are already inflated, if translink gets thier grabhooks into Squamish look forward to another 8 to 10 cents per litre on average here!!! BEWARE
Ashely says
Nice to read your blog
Doreen ramus says
For me, as a senior, a bus service to Vancouver would be great, providing it had a regular route & ran at least 3 times a day. I would like to add for many people who have to go to Lions gate for tests or to visit a small bus service would be more than helpful. Now you can get a bus to Park Royal, change, walk & get a bus to the North Shore, more walking. Coming home, bus to P.R & wait for the Squamish bus which if full, then what. Pretty poor for seniors. Think about it!
VBoylan says
That would be awesome if there was a bus service from Squamish to Vancouver! I would support it by riding it!