Regional District of Nanaimo staff will explore improving transit service in the south Nanaimo area and Electoral Area A (Cedar, Cassidy, South Wellington), but it’s deferred a decision on Duke Point.
The district board directed staff to prepare a report and among the items to be explored will be costs associated with extending busing through Snuneymuxw reservation No. 4 along MacMillan, Gordon and Cedar roads and situating a bus shelter to accommodate Snuneymuxw residents of reservation No. 4. Whether this can be included during the next round of transit hour expansion will also be examined.
Daniel Pearce, regional district director of transportation and emergency services, said the service analysis will also examine the Fairview, Harewood and Cinnabar/Cedar routes collectively. Concerns have been expressed about bus frequency, he said.
“Included in our financial plan, we do have a tentative 5,000 hours that we can work with B.C. Transit to implement…” said Pearce. “We’d be looking at most likely in 2018 when we get back to our board.”
Pearce said next steps will include presenting an update to the regional district transit select committee in November.
“From there, then we’ll get down to the hard work of trying to look at exactly, from whatever the transit select gives us the OK to do, of exactly where we’re going to look at and really how much detail we’re going to get into for a service analysis, but we will be looking at the No. 7, the southern part of Nanaimo as well and I think we’ll also be looking at any feedback that we get and any additional information we get from the Duke Point route and bringing that back as well. So making sure that there’s that comparison as well for where resources could go,” said Pearce.
The board referred a recommendation regarding implementation of Duke Point ferry terminal service back to staff and Pearce said information will be sought at the November meeting.
“We will be putting that option together as well, with additional information looking at the southern part of Nanaimo, giving the board a choice,” said Pearce. “As it sits now, we’re definitely getting a lot of feedback online and we’re hearing loud and clear from residents that they would like to see Duke Point, so we’ll try to communicate the most effective way possible to the board that we are hearing that.”
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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