Gov't seeks Greyhound fix

Photo: The Canadian Press

The B.C. government has put out a call for expressions of interest to provide a replacement bus service to fill the gaps still left by Greyhound's departure at the end of October. 

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a release that so far, 83 per cent of the old routes have been covered, thanks to fast-tracking applications from companies, like Ebus, looking to step in. However, eight routes are still left with nothing. 

Now, their call for expressions of interest aims to feel out what private sector operators, non-profit societies, community agencies, local governments, Indigenous communities or other interested parties might be out there that could complete the coverage. The parties will still also need to apply to the Passenger Transportation Board for an intercity bus license. 

The eight routes in question are:

• Cache Creek to Kamloops on Highway 1
• Kamloops to Valemount on Highway 5
• Valemount to B.C.-Alberta border on highways 5 and 16
• Dawson Creek to B.C.-Alberta border on Highway 2
• Salmo to Creston on highways 3 and 6
• Cranbrook to the B.C.-Alberta border on Highway 3
• Fort Nelson to the B.C.-Yukon border on Highway 7
• Hope to Princeton on Highway 3

The deadline for interested respondents to submit is Jan. 15 2019, and the bid posting can be found here. The ministry remains in discussions with the federal government and other provinces and territories, working to find a long-term viable solution to ensure safe and reliable ground transportation for B.C. citizens.