B.C. Transit is proposing changes to HandyDART that would restrict the ability of new users to access the service if they live too far from transit routes.
The provincial agency is proposing custom transit service, such as HandyDART, be restricted to a 1.5-kilometre buffer around the existing transit route system. It has asked for feedback on the proposal from the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Existing users outside that buffer would be grandfathered, while potential new users wouldn’t be able to receive the service. B.C. Transit’s service maps shows that 98.5 per cent of users are within the buffer.
“This would eliminate the ability of people to age in place that expected access to HandyDART,” said Dennis Trudeau, RDN general manager of transportation and solid waste. “Right now if the person is three or five kilometres away and needs the service, we would serve them.”
The proposal was examined during the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Transit Select Committee meeting Thursday. The committee directed staff report back outlining the financial and service impacts.
Diane Brennan, chairwoman of the committee, said she is concerned because it’s important to provide access for people with disabilities who can’t use the regular transit system so they can participate in the community.
“We certainly wouldn’t want to see anyone without service,” she said.
The impact wouldn’t be a major issue in Nanaimo, because of the numerous transit routes.
“The outlying areas are the ones that would be most hit by this,” Brennan said.
In a letter to the RDN, B.C. Transit said it is examining the issue because of the increasing number of HandyDART trips to remote areas and the negative effect it is having on the service delivery in some custom transit areas.
The proposal preserves current service levels and B.C. Transit says in the future, custom service would expand along with conventional transit routes as funding allowed.
Trudeau said the RDN has plans to expand service over the years, but until that was done, service would be restricted to the buffer, if adopted.
There have been no changes to service at this point.
“The community at this point does not need to be alarmed,” said Brennan, adding the committee has a number of factors to consider before making any comments on the B.C. Transit proposal.
Along with financial and service impacts, Brennan expects issues of sustainability will also be examined. She said the growth plan has focused more efforts on having people build and move into village nodes and create more density.
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