The city will join in on a UNBC student initiative to provide free public transit during the Canada Winter Games.
During Monday night's meeting, city council voted to support UNBC Students Pave the Way by waiving $2,100 worth of transit fees. The money will come from council's economic development fund.
The project aims to reduce traffic and air pollution during the 18-day event in February by encouraging more people to take the bus.
The main reason is to increase accessibility to Games venues "but this is a bigger project than that," said UNBC student Kristen Kieta.
"It decreases pollution, it will improve air quality, we're going to promote ridership to the downtown business corridor and enhance social inclusion," Kieta said. "It's Canada, it's winter time, it's safer to have people off the roads and in buses."
Eleven organizations and businesses have already stepped up with $2,100 or more to cover daily transit costs, leaving six days left to fund. The daily donations cover about $1,500 worth of fares and the remainder will pick up the potential lost revenue from monthly pass holders who may not buy their passes since they're getting such a chunk of the month for free.
"This is essentially one of those Free Fare for Clean Air Days with the additional donation, so when we hand you the large cheque for all the days we just ask that you decrease it by one day," said Kieta.
The initiative is also an opportunity for Prince George to sell itself as a more progressive and greener community to visitors, Kieta said.
Two weeks aren't enough to change habits when it comes to increasing ridership, said Coun. Susan Scott, but noted it opened the door to an opportunity for change.
Scott also said she was looking for support for local social support groups. "When we do have the free transit there are other issues that arise socially," she said.
"I couldn't be more thrilled," said Coun. Jillian Merrick, who campaigned with improvements to transit as a major part of her platform. "I think it will be a huge part of changing habits," Merrick said, adding that the initiave will be in place for the most-congested 18 days of transit ridership.
Students are also accepting cash and bottle donations. For more information, visit: http://www.unbc.ca/news/35590/students-pave-way.
The students' presentation to council was timely as the group also received a report outlining the road closures and parking restrictions that will be implemented downtown during the Canada Winter Games.
With an area of the downtown core designated as the Athlete's Village, space is required for the buses and motor coaches that will ferry athletes and support staff to venues around the city, leading to bus-only parking lanes.
"The locations that are affected are for the most part not store front locations and will coincide, as well as incorporate, the current BC Transit stop locations," said a staff report to council.
There will also be a few full road closures to "provide the optimal pedestrian movement, safety and accessibility," the report said.
Some of the areas where parking will be restricted are on Dominion Street between Patricia Boulevard and Sixth Avenue, along Ninth Avenue between Victoria and Brunswick Streets, along Seventh Avenue between Victoria and Brunswick Streets and between Canada Games Way and Dominion Street.
Road closures will include all of Canada Games Way between Brunswick Street and Seventh Avenue and Patricia Boulevard behind the Coliseum. There will also be a handful of parking lots co-opted for Games-only use.
