Transit Future Bus Rolls into the Sea to Sky Corridor

SQUAMISH/WHISTLER/PEMBERTON – Help shape the future of transit in your region. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), District of Squamish and BC Transit are inviting the public to get on board with the region’s 25-year Transit Future Plan.

From March 27 to March 30, 2014 BC Transit is bringing the ‘Transit Future Bus’ to various locations throughout the Sea to Sky corridor to connect with community members about area-specific transit needs, priorities and concerns.

The 40-foot decommissioned bus has been transformed into an interactive public consultation tool. Interactive components on the bus include an iPad station, a Kids’ Zone and a Post-It note board.

Stops for the ‘Transit Future Bus’ include Squamish’s Chieftain Centre and Brennan Park Recreation Centre, the RMOW’s Meadow Park Sports Centre and Olympic Plaza; and the Pemberton Community Centre.

“We are looking forward to hosting the Transit Future Bus right in our community on March 27 and 29 as phase one of the Transit Future Planning Process,” said Whistler Councillor Jack Crompton, the council representative on the Whistler Transit Management Advisory Committee. “This is an important opportunity for residents and visitors to provide their feedback on the future of Whistler’s transit system over the next 25 years, and I encourage everyone to come out and have their voice heard. All comments will be reviewed and analyzed by Whistler’s Transit Management Advisory Committee to ensure our transit service meets the needs of the community well into the future.”

“Looking ahead 25 years we envision a community that thrives in part because of its comprehensive multi-modal transportation system, of which transit has an increasing role to play,” said District of Squamish Mayor Rob Kirkham. “Ongoing transit improvements will continue to increase ridership, which will in turn help drive improvements in the system. This public consultation exercise is an important first step in visioning out to the future and creating the foundation upon which to build upon.”

The Transit Future Team will be travelling with the bus to listen to the public and learn more about transit needs in the region. The team will also be available to answer questions.

“In order for BC Transit to succeed for decades to come, we must listen to what our customers want and need,” said BC Transit Executive Director of Business Development Erinn Pinkerton. “By bringing the ‘Transit Future Bus’ to popular community events and destinations in the Sea to Sky corridor, we receive direct input from our customers on how to best grow a regional transit system we can all take pride in.”

‘TRANSIT FUTURE BUS’ SCHEDULE:

  • March 27, 2014 Chieftain Centre, Squamish 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • March 27, 2014 Village Gate Boulevard, Whistler 3:30pm – 6:30pm
  • March 28, 2014 Pemberton Community Centre 10:00am – 1:00pm
  • March 28, 2014 Lil’Wat Nation Band Office 3:00pm – 5:00pm
  • March 29, 2014 Meadow Park Sports Centre, Whistler 10:00am – 1:00pm
  • March 29, 2014 Olympic Plaza, Whistler 2:30pm – 5:30pm
  • March 30, 2014 Brennan Park, Squamish 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • March 30, 2014 Totem Hall, Squamish 2:30pm – 4:30pm

If you not able to attend a Transit Future Bus event, you can add your comments online at https://www.bctransit.com/transitfuture/sts_getinvolved.cfm until April 6, 2014.

Media Contacts:

Meribeth Burton
BC Transit
Corporate Spokesperson
250.507.8145
media@bctransit.com
Christina Moore
District of Squamish
Communications Manager
604.815.5025
cmoore@squamish.ca
RMOW Communications
Resort Municipality of Whistler
604.967.3030
communication@whistler.ca