EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN REVELSTOKE

people with permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route transit without assistance from another person”).

Discussions are in the works between the City of Revelstoke, BC Transit and Everything Revelstoke (Revelstoke Transfers) over how to best amalgamate the ski-hill shuttle with BC Transit operations. During a recent public infrastructure committee meeting, City of Revelstoke director of infrastructure and planning Steve Black told its members the current schedule appears to be working, and they are now working on components of revenue stream such as creating a common fare for all users and looking at opportunities to create a monthly or annual pass.

Black said the transit consolidation — including what the fares will look like — will likely be in front of council within the next month or so.

“It’s coming and I’ve also asked BC Transit to start considering what it looks like when BC Transit operates the total system. It’ll be a slightly different system… We will be implementing this under the assumption that none of the financing changes for this year.”

The current BC Transit Revelstoke website includes a page titled Transit Future in Revelstoke. It states that “Transit Future guides transit investment that is supportive of livable communities, through:

- Offering more transportation choice

- Supporting smart land use plans that focus on walking, cycling and transit

- Meeting climate change goals

- Making it easy to access everyday services on foot, by bike and by transit

By Melissa Jameson.

Change and potential change is in the air for the local and regional transit system in Revelstoke. In this story, we reached out to stakeholders to find out what’s being explored and planned.

There are myriad reasons people use a public transit system. Locally, here in Revelstoke, it may be getting to and from work or appointments, going to visit friends or borrow books from the library. Inter-city public transit options (travelling between two or more communities) are desirable for those needing to travel out of town for medical specialist appointments, or to access cheaper groceries and other household necessities or getting to or from the Kelowna International Airport.

A series of recent developments have signalled real planned changes and potential future changes. In this article, the Mountaineer examines the current landscape of both local and inter-city transportation for Revelstoke, and explores what efforts are underway to expand transit options.

A SCAN OF CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS: WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR IN-TOWN TRAVEL

In Revelstoke those wanting to use public transportation to travel within the city can use either the resort shuttle or BC Transit (which also operates the handyDART, described as “an accessible, door-to-door transit service for

The BC Transit Revelstoke website (bctransit.com/revelstoke) also emphasizes the importance of user in-put and is encouraging people to get involved and be part of shaping the future transit system.

A SCAN OF CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS: WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR INTER-CITY TRAVEL

Currently, options for inter-city public transportation are available, but limited. For those needing to get to and from the Kelowna Airport, Everything Revelstoke (Revelstoke Transfers) operates an airport shuttle between Kelowna and Revelstoke. The Revelstoke Transfers website currently lists its price as $151 for passengers 13 and older, $75.50 for passengers ages three to 13 and free for ages two and under.

The most cost-effective option for inter-city travel is the health connections bus, operated by Interior Health. While its priority is providing transportation for those needing to travel for non-emergency medical appointments, the bus sometimes accommodated non-medical passengers if there are seats available. The cost is $5 one-way, with the bus travelling between Revelstoke and Kamloops on Tuesdays and to and from Kelowna on Wednesdays. On both travel days, the bus leaves Revelstoke at 8 a.m. and begins its return journey at 3 p.m.

Greyhound Canada’s announcement that it would be discontinuing bus and shipping services in Western Canada effective October 2018 due to declining ridership left a huge gap in public transportation options for those looking for reliable inter-city travel. Shortly after, Regina-based Rider Express emerged to fill the gap in service left after Greyhound’s departure. Revelstoke is included in Rider Express’s Vancouver/Calgary route which also includes stops in Sicamous, Salmon Arm and Kamloops. A round trip between Revelstoke and Kamloops will run you about $133 before taxes. There is no option to travel to Kelowna.

All three inter-city public transit options ability’s to bring multiple bags on the bus is limited and likely this wouldn’t be the best option for someone looking to go out of town to stock up on lower priced groceries.

“I think our affordability challenges also make us unique, just having access to low-cost groceries,” said Taha Attiah, City of Revelstoke community development coordinator. “The importance of connecting isn’t just to get to major sectors and the airport. We’re starting to see people here relocating to Sicamous to live because the cost of housing is cheaper.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF ALL

Attiah said there’s been ongoing informal discussion within the social development sector about the challenges and difficulty in getting in and out of the community without access to a reliable vehicle, noting that it’s only one part of a much bigger conversation that needs to take place around affordability and cost of living — something the city’s poverty reduction and affordability strategy looking to tackle.

“That strategy, the focus really is of those main cost of living components that we all kind of need to get by. The cost-of-living increase across the board is really what it’s focused on, and it comes down to housing, transportation, food, and childcare — those four make up the bulk of a family’s budget,” said Attiah.

Conversations around affordability are crossing sectors, with Tourism Revelstoke prioritizing housing for community in its recently released destination management plan. Like the city’s community development sector, Tourism Revelstoke has also had conversations centred on public transportation.

“On an informal level, we have engaged with a few groups who are interested in expanding links – including the group proposing the e-bus,” said Robyn Goldsmith, destination and sustainability manager with Tourism Revelstoke. “We have also engaged in advocacy initiatives over the years to continue or develop transportation links, particularly after the Greyhound service ceased. Transportation has been recognized as a key priority by regional stakeholders and we have been involved in engagement sessions with Kootenay Rockies Tourism (KRT), who have been exploring the regional transportation opportunities, challenges and options.”

Goldsmith said KRT took on exploration of regional visitor transportation models that could work for the area, and then lead the implementation of a pilot initiative to build a business case for transportation operators to consider, but said she isn’t sure where things left off.

B.C. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO SUPPORT RURAL REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION

At the end of May 2023, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced it would provide funding to help maintain safe and affordable regional transportation options for rural communities. This funding includes $2.5 million (one-third of the money each) to the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Island Coastal Economic Trust, and the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior to conduct regional engagement on analysis of rural, regional inter-city transportation.

“The [ministry] will then use the outcomes of the trusts’ engagements, completed by further engagement with other regions in the coming months to help inform next steps for developing options on transportation solutions in rural communities,” read a statement from the Ministry of Transportation.

Laurel Douglas, chief executive officer, Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI), said the organization – which includes a service area that reaches from Hope to the Alberta border, and from Clearwater to the U.S. border – is focusing on stakeholder group engagement with nine regional districts, 53 municipalities and 33 First Nations. They have engaged Watt Consulting to help them with the study.

“It’s a massive area and this study is to cover all that,” said Douglas.

“Obviously some of these communities have done a lot of work already… there are numerous services already underway that connect certain communities… what we’re doing is we work with local governments, First Nations, non-profits, all the economic development stakeholders. That’s who [Watt Consulting] is doing consultation with, we want to find out from stakeholders what their constituents have said.”

While Revelstoke is sometimes viewed as a complex area for transportation planning, Douglas pointed out the community benefits from strong coordination and collaboration.

“The Chamber, Economic Development, Community Futures – all those groups are highly integrated and aware of what the other communities are doing. Within the Southern Interior we have Dr. Sarah Breen [Selkirk College’s BC Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development] on the working group, as well as representatives from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.”

Attiah said it’s important for Revelstoke to advocate for the needs of its community members. “Where we are currently, the city is not equipped to provide intercity transit, but we want to be as prepared as we can and be as supportive as we can. Whatever conversation we’re in, whether it has provincial or national partnership, the city is well positioned to know our community members best.”

Douglas said any money left over after the research is completed will be used to provide communities with the ability to pursue their own intercity transportation priorities.

“That’s very much in line with how we operate, trying to facilitate creating value for the eco-system. Our sweet spot is community-based funding, supporting resiliency and growth.”

The report, which will include an inventory of all transportation services that exist, should be completed by the end of this summer.

SO, WHAT COULD (OR SHOULD) THE FUTURE HOLD FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT?

Protect Our Winters Canada (POW), an organization made up of “community enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry brands,” advocates for policy solution to climate change at the federal level. The organization is advocating for a national sustainable transportation strategy. Ali Wines, POW executive director said data gathered by POW’s research lead as part of PhD research with the University of Waterloo is looking into reducing emissions for regional tourism economies.

“Transport in Canada is currently everyone’s responsibility, and no-one’s. Decisions are made by combinations of federal, provincial and municipal authorities, with private providers thrown in for good measure. This results in a gap-filled network that leaves travellers stranded in small towns cut off from jobs and economic opportunities that a coherent transportation network would provide. Studies show that transportation is a critical tourism product, but Canada lags badly in this area,” said Wines.

Data gathered by POW from regional tourism numbers, with emissions calculations based on distance driven by an average internal combustion engine car revealed the following for Revelstoke:

- Revelstoke has 768,400 visitors annually or 5,000 visitors per day

- The average group size is 1.9 people

- This amounts to 404,000 cars annually

At Tourism Revelstoke, Goldsmith agrees an improved transportation network could help tourism by making Revelstoke a more accessible destination, while encouraging shared transit and more environmentally friendly travel.

“It would also allow people to avoid driving on our snowy and often dangerous highway corridors. The viability of a Powder Highway trip, for example, would be greatly improved if we had transport links to the Kelowna Airport and Golden,” Goldsmith said.

Wines said while POW expects transport would still be managed at the provincial and local levels, a national strategy “would set the vision for a Canadian transport system that could effectively and efficiently move people around our country in a much more sustainable way.

“This might look like identification of critical corridors and connection hubs high-level route planning and allocation of funding for sustainable forms of transit.”

No matter which level of government is responsible there is agreement that both a local and inter-city transit system need to provide accessibility for a wide range of users. While serving visitors is a helpful economic boost for Revelstoke’s tourism economy and the broader community, Goldsmith points out there is also a need to ensure the service is practical for full-time residents.

“We also need to ensure that the difficulty of winter travel in particular is a consideration for drivers and users, and that potential delays due to avalanche closures are considered as part of any proposal,” said Goldsmith.

On top of all that, Wines points out that not only does transportation need to be accessible, inclusive and safe, but it also needs to be convenient and reliable, so it becomes more desirable than driving for most people.

“Too many governments make the mistake of under-funding transport and when people don’t use it because it’s not reliable, they cut funding further …. As a side note, we often hear complaints about the ‘subsidies’ for public and active transport. It’s really important to remember that governments massively subsidize the construction and maintenance of roads every year as well. Funding transport isn’t a new type of investment, it’s just shifting our priorities.”