Local leaders, B.C. Transit representatives and community members gathered in 亚洲天堂 Lake last Friday to celebrate the start of the new Hwy. 16 bus service.

The new bus service, which began operating on June 19, connects 亚洲天堂 Lake to Prince George and 亚洲天堂 Lake to Smithers three times per week.

亚洲天堂 Lake Mayor Chris Beach said he believes this new service will have a positive affect on the local economy and it will serve to further solidify 亚洲天堂 Lake as a sub-regional centre between Prince George and Smithers.

鈥淚t is a truly momentous day for our community and our region,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or someone like myself who was born and raised here, this is a long time coming.鈥�

Beach said the new bus service will also improve access to education, jobs, services and healthcare.

鈥淲ith 亚洲天堂 Lake as a hub, it will mean more access, more convenience and more choice for our local residents,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be such an amazing addition to our community and to our region.鈥�

亚洲天堂 Lake will be a hub for routes 161 and 162. Route 161 will depart 亚洲天堂 Lake for Prince George and return the same day on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; route 162 will provide services between 亚洲天堂 Lake and Smithers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The one-way fare will be $5 per segment.

亚洲天堂 Lake Band Chief Dan George said the new service will provide a safe and affordable transportation to all families along the corridor and hopefully eliminate the need for hitchhiking.

鈥淵ou still see lots of people hitchhiking, hopefully we can eliminate that,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is definitely a positive start and a step in the right direction and it鈥檚 a testament that we can all work together - First Nations, local government, regional government and the province.鈥� 鈥淭his is not the end, we still have much work to address the root causes associated with the missing and murdered women and girls,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t is not just a First Nations issue, it is an issue along Hwy. 16.鈥�

This new inter-community transit is part of the $6.4 million Hwy. 16 transportation action plan, which encompasses transit, community vehicles, First Nations driver education, webcams and bus shelters. Detailed information about schedules can be found at bctransit.com/bulkley-nechako.

It is still unclear when the bus service that will connect the Southside to Hwy. 16 will begin operating.