The Passenger Transportation Board approved Greyhound鈥檚 proposal to eliminate nine routes across B.C. on last Wednesday.
The bus company has said it can no longer subsidize losses on unprofitable routes with revenue from the more profitable routes in the province.
In a decision posted online, the board said it can鈥檛 force a private business to suffer 鈥渟ignificant financial losses indefinitely.鈥�
鈥淕reyhound said that if it eliminates 1.6 million scheduled miles, it can continue to provide 3.7 million scheduled miles of passenger bus service in central and southern B.C.,鈥� the decision reads.
Greyhound has said the nine routes set to be eliminated by June 1 have dropped 30 per cent in ridership over the last five years, amounting to a loss of $35,000 per day, or $70 million over six years.
The company will also reduce the number of round trips and eliminate stops along 10 other routes, including from the Interior to Lower Mainland, Fort Nelson to the Yukon border, and Prince George to the Alberta border. These routes will go down to two round trips per week in the coming days.
鈥淲e regret having to do this and appreciate the board鈥檚 acknowledgment of the difficult circumstances under which we鈥檝e been operating over the past several years,鈥� Stuart Kendrick, Greyhound鈥檚 senior vice president, said in a statement.
Eliminated routes are as follows: Prince Rupert - Prince George Dawson Creek - Fort Nelson, Fort Nelson - Yukon border & Hwy. 97, Dawson Creek - Prince George, Prince George - Alberta Border & Hwy. 16, UBC - Whistler, Victoria - Nanaimo, Victoria - Vancouver.
Decision causes concern for safety
Since Greyhound鈥檚 proposal was made public late last year, community leaders in the north have voiced concern over safety and affordability for those needing to travel along the highway routes.
The transportation board held three community forums in cities that would be affected last December. Members heard from people who said transportation is fairly limited, with flights typically more expensive and Via Rail inconsistent.
Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach said some people may have to take unsafe measures once the cuts are in place.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to find another way to get to where they need to go,鈥� Bachrach said. 鈥淎nd for some folks, that will involve hitchhiking.鈥�
Highway 16, also known as B.C.鈥檚 Highway of Tears, has been linked to the disappearance of several aboriginal women along its 720 kilometres between Prince George and Prince Rupert.
However, Gladys Radek, whose niece Tamara Chipman went missing 12 years ago on Highway 16, didn鈥檛 appear to be missing the Greyhound service.
鈥淭he bus comes here really early in the morning or late, late, late at night,鈥� Radek said, adding that it鈥檚 also expensive. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why a lot of people haven鈥檛 used it.鈥�
She pointed to safer and more affordable alternatives, such as a $5 round-trip bus connecting Prince Rupert and Terrace operated by not-for-profit groups.
Greyhound calls for federal, provincial solution
The transportation board鈥檚 decision says Greyhound must continue the nine routes until June 1, to allow time for private companies to propose alternatives.
The bus company has also renewed its call for a 鈥渟ustainable intercity bus service,鈥� to be funded as a federal and provincial subsidy with private operators and municipalities.
Mayor Bachrach said he鈥檚 already spoken with Transportation Minister Claire Trevena about the gap these soon-to-be-empty routes will leave.
In a statement Wednesday, Trevena called the board鈥檚 decision 鈥渄isappointing,鈥� and one that will leave some people vulnerable.
Trevena added she鈥檒l be speaking to community and First Nations leaders to ensure safe, reliable and affordable long-haul transportation remains in place for those who depend on it.
