West Kootenay Transit Action

Tell the new BC government
the rest of BC needs a full transit
and coach network!

Send an email or letter today:

Why not take a few minutes to join the BC-wide push for better public transit in “the rest of BC”. The new BC government is forming plans right now, it’s a great time to add your voice.`

A real paper letter (stamp needed) has the MOST impact, but every note and email adds to the pressure.

REMEMBER: The politician will NOT likely personally see your letter. An assistant will scan, send a form letter response, and tick a column to report on the letter’s message. Eloquent detail is NOT so important. Being clear what you want or your question IS important! A clear: Where do you stand on…? question is useful.

While local city councils and regional districts may really want to improve and expand transit services, they can’t do it without more financing from the provincial and federal governments. In the current funding formula BC Transit (the province) pretty much matches local funding for transit. That effectively paralyzes expansion of services when local governments have no more money to contribute. The province needs to scrap the cost-sharing arrangement now and boost funding for transit in “the rest of BC”.

Tell them today: Rural BC needs more buses!

PREMIER DAVID EBY
Office of the Premier
STN Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1
premier@gov.bc.ca

Hon. Mike Farnsworth, MLA
Minister of Transportation AND Transit
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria BC V8V 1X4
Mike.Farnsworth.MLA@leg.bc.ca

BRITTNY ANDERSON, MLA
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria BC V8V 1X4
brittny.anderson.MLA@leg.bc.ca

STEVE MORISSETTE, MLA
Parliament Buildings,
Victoria BC V8V 1X4
Steven.Morissette.MLA@leg.bc.ca

Watch the fun at Nelson
BC We Need A Bus Day June 7th

Watch the Connecting BC webinar on a bus network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gQLZ-24Jp8&t=70s

READ MORE ABOUT REPORT HERE.

NEWS: February 9 2024.

Action group gets better name

Members of our action group voted recently to change the name to WEST KOOTENAY TRANSIT ACTION. Besides being less clunky than our previous name (Nelson Better Public Transportation Action Group), this better describes the geography we work in. In-town transit is crucial but in the Kootenays, many people could save a lot of money and gas with much better inter-community transit. Recent news about changes in BC Transit local systems should pave the way for more reliable local services in the Slocan Valley and all the way to Kaslo. ”Major increases in federal and provincial funding – permanent program funding, not contingent grants – is what it will take to make transit the real convenient and affordable alternative we need,” says Keith Wiley from the action group. The group also of course will continue to push for a full inter-city coach service, frequent affordable buses from the Kootenay to Vancouver, Kelowna, Cranbrook and Calgary. Watch for public events coming up this month!

NEWS: October 26, 2023

Lightweight solutions no match for rural transportation hurdles

Province identifies transportation as a major rural issue, but little more than small scale patches promised, says West Kootenay Transit Action.

READ THE FULL RELEASE from West Kootenay Transit Action HERE:

Improvements BC Needs:

a Nelson-Trail daily express bus service to serve hospital patients and commuters. Nelson to the hospital in Trail express with NO transfers.
an affordable fast daily bus service to Vancouver, as part of an inter-connected public provincial bus network.
the electrification of all school and transit buses
on-demand transit vehicles that come to your door when scheduled
transit bus service on Sundays