People living in northern B.C., from the Hazeltons to Terrace, will soon have inter-community transit services, which will connect those who live and work throughout these communities.
These new transit services will launch on the morning of Monday, Nov. 20. This will be the fourth inter-community route as part of the transit expansion component of the B.C. government’s Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan.
“All of the new transit services along Highway 16 have relied on building new partnerships. The time and effort everyone has contributed to bringing new inter-community transit services to Highway 16 has resulted in what we are celebrating today – safe, reliable and affordable transportation,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claire Trevena, in a press release. “This new route will provide some communities with public transportation for the first time, meaning safe and reliable transportation so people can get to appointments, access services and visit friends and family.”
Once this service starts, transit will be available a minimum of three days per week between communities from Terrace to Prince George. BC Transit designed the service based on public feedback that asked for transit services that would allow for travel to the next largest community and a return trip home the same day.
The BC Transit route 164 Kispiox/Terrace will make round-trips on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The standard one-way fare is $5, while seniors and students will pay $4 each way.
This is the fourth inter-community transit service link to begin on Highway 16 this year. BC Transit services are actively operating between Smithers and Moricetown, between Burns Lake and Smithers, and between Burns Lake and Prince George.
“We are very pleased that the Province and BC Transit have collaborated with First Nations across the Northwest in an attempt to eradicate the issues surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women. We have a right to health and wellness and a responsibility to ensure our community members, women especially, get to where they need to go safely,” said Chasity Daniels, Chief Councillor of Gitwangak. “This collaboration sets a fine precedent of Northwest B.C. showing respect, recognition and reconciliation with First Nations people. To’Yax Si’ Niin (thank you – Gitxsan).”
In addition to the new service on route 164 Kispiox/Terrace, the 163 Kispiox/Smithers (formerly route number 2) will add an additional day of service and will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A new route number 32 West Connector will be introduced, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between Hazelton and Gitwangak. The route 31 Kispiox/Gitsegukla (formerly route number 1) will change the days it operates and will now run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
