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City opposed to Greyhound’s plans to reduce service through Williams Lake

The City of Williams Lake is opposed to Greyhound Canada’s plans to reduce services through Williams Lake.

The city of Williams Lake is opposed to Greyhound Canada’s plans to reduce services through Williams Lake.

Last month Greyhound sent out a public notice of its proposed plans to reduce the number of buses into Williams Lake from 42 weekly to 28.

Mayor Kerry Cook said Greyhound provides affordable transportation to local residents.

“A reduction in the service along the corridor up to Prince George, will have an impact,” she said.

Coun. Surinderpal Rathor added he’s heard from businesses that Greyhound also provides necessary freight services.

“The service is a very integral part of our community, not only for humans that don’t have the luxury to own and operate a vehicle, but for industry that depends on freight of parts and other things on a day-to-day basis. That and the part of the country that we live in where it can be harsh driving in winter conditions.”

Coun. Bourdon did not support the city’s position.

“In their justification, Greyhound clearly shows that there’s a reduction in ridership. When we’re looking to reduce greenhouse gases within our city, I think we need to look outside our city has well. If there are buses running that don’t need to be running then we should consider that,” Bourdon said.

In its notice, Greyhound also sited competition from the Health Connections bus run by Interior Health, a problem Cook said she hopes will be worked out between the two parties.

Council approved a draft letter composed by Cook, voicing the city’s opposition.

 



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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