An independent review of BC Transit operations and performance will be launched at the request of mayors and other elected officials throughout the province, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom said Wednesday.
However, providing community-to-community service along the so-called Highway of Tears will not be on the agenda. Rather, Lekstrom indicated the review would be about fine-tuning the way the system operates as it currently stands.
"I think that one would come through an initiative of the local governments in the area," Lekstrom said. "If they came together with an agreement that said 'Look, we want to initiate this up here,' they would actually discuss the funding options that would be available as well."
Lekstrom said the review would not begin until after the local elections are completed.
He said issues like planning for capital spending, governance, and communications will be looked at although a terms of reference must still be completed.
"We have a good system but we thing it could be even better, that's what this is going to be all about," Lekstrom said.
During the 2010-11 year, ridership in Prince George grew by 16.8 per cent., according to B.C. Transit as residents rode the bus 1.94 million times.
Only Fort St. John, Whistler and the Comox Valley saw a bigger increase out of the 81 transit systems operated in partnership.
The total cost of operating the city's bus service during the year was $6.73 million. Transit fares and advertising covered $1.85 million of that cost, $3.19 million was funding by B.C. Transit and $1.69 million was funded through city taxes.
