PORT EDWARD - BC Transit sent the Regional Transit Manager, Ryan Little, from Victoria to field comments and concerns from the District of Port Edward on March 8.
Port Edward councillors shared stories from residents on the shoddy service they have been receiving from the one bus that services the town. Councillor James Brown said there is no emergency line to voice concerns, and the bus often breaks down. He asked if BC Transit had a backup plan because some residents told him they had to hitchhike.
“Your bus right now is toward the end of life so you will be getting a new bus in two to three years,” Little said. When the bus breaks down it takes another 20 to 30 minutes for a replacement bus to come in from Prince Rupert. He also mentioned there were scheduling and driver issues that have been corrected and it won’t happen again.
“Where it’s a real problem is when the younger ones are coming out of school.
“We have to have a way,” Mayor Dave MacDonald said adding that there have been calls from concerned parents.
There is no exact date for when the new bus is expected, but Little said it is supposed to be brand new.