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Penticton  

Rural bus fund proposed

Greyhound Canada is unveiling its proposal to help keep rural bus service running in large swaths of the province.

The bus line is calling on government to create a fund to fill the gaps left by the company's proposed cuts in the Similkameen Valley, Northern B.C. and Vancouver Island.

“Federal and provincial governments, and large municipalities spend billions annually on urban transit services; B.C.’s rural communities deserve transportation investments as well,” a statement from Greyhound says.

The proposed system would be open to First Nations and municipalities across B.C., funding a bidding process to secure private sector operators to connect regional hubs.

Greyhound has been lobbying local governments for support for the plan in recent weeks.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure told Castanet this weekend subsidized rural bus services is being considered.

In addition is stopping service to all of Northern B.C., Greyhound is proposing to cut all service to the Similkameen Valley, including Princeton, Keremeos and Manning Park.

The Passenger Transportation Board of B.C. will release its decision on the cuts in early January.



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