MONDAY
S I N C E
1 8 9 5
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
United Way Day in pictures
Vol. 117, Issue 184
110
$
Page 2
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALM SALMO
SSSMOKIN’ START ON HOME ICE
Transit changes put service on right route
Fire ban still on BY BREANNE MASSEY Times Staff
Evening service and commuterfriendly runs helped boost revenue BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
Transit services in the Greater Trail region have rebounded this year with more riders and revenue after being dealt a blow in the last year, according to new figures recently released by BC Transit. Although the total cost per ride in the Kootenay Boundary Transit System rose by 16.8 per cent over the last year—while ridership dropped 1.9 per cent and revenue was down 4.8 per cent— revenue recorded in the new season has increased an average of 19 per cent each month. Regional District of Kootenay Boundary chair Larry Gray said improving the number of corridor trips to Castlegar and Nelson was the reason for the increase, based on BC Transit data available from April to July. The new runs—already integrated into the new regional transit service—connect regional routes so people don’t have to change busses so many times, said Gray. “From a political perspective, yes, we were concerned,” he said about the drop last year. “But it meant we were looking to how we could improve the service to the whole area. The new transit plan looks at the whole area as one unit, instead of having nine systems, and will find ways to have a more efficient and effective service.” The corridor routes represent “progression towards implementation,” he added. In March commuter-friendly and late evening service was introduced in the Greater Trail region, with more trips during the workday along the corridor and Friday late night runs on the most populated routes. People slowly embraced the new changes, with a 2.2 per cent jump in ridership in April, while revenue crept by 11.4 per cent to $8,646. Ridership jumped by 6.3 per cent to 17,211 in May, while revenue surged ahead by 27.9 per cent over last year. Although ridership dropped by 6.3 per cent in June (while revenue rose 2.5 per cent), it rebounded with a 20.2 per cent jump in July
See CUSTOMER, Page 3
Don’t mind the mess...
STEVE SCAIA PHOTO
Trail Smoke Eaters Adam Wheeldon and Jesse Knowler and some of the over 1,000 fans in the Cominco Arena celebrate a Trail goal in the team’s home opener on Friday night. The Smokies went on to down the West Kelowna Warriors 3-1. See story on Page 9.
The dry summer weather has extended the open fire prohibition within the Southeast Fire Centre for another three weeks. The prohibition includes the burning of any waste, slash or other material, the burning of stubble or grass, and the use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size. And the dry weather since a record rain in June is the culprit, said Southeast Fire Centre’s fire information officer Karlie Shaughnessy. “We just haven’t seen the right amount of precipitation to lower our indices to acceptable levels,” said Shaughnessy. “Right now there’s still a lot of fine fuels and gorge areas that are really dried out and it’s reflecting in our danger rating. We’re still at the moderate to high danger rating, with the exception of the Columbia area which is at low.”
See U.S., Page 2
Boundary expansion hurts valley, says director BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul. A move to extend the City of Trail’s boundaries is a bad deal for the neighbouring Beaver Valley, says the area’s regional district director, Ali Grieve. The Silver City’s intent to act on the recommendations from the Boundary Expansion Study will remove essential revenue from the rural area’s coffers, said the Area A director, and increase the taxation level for its residents. This week an information sheet on
the issue—what has happened, why it happened, and current status—and what the Beaver Valley is looking for will be sent out to residents of the valley, said Grieve. “What we’re all looking for … is for the Beaver Valley to remain whole. We don’t want to see anyone as winners or losers,” she said. “We’re not interested in that approach. We all know we have a great community in the Beaver Valley. We don’t want anybody to rock our boat.” The 2012 study done by Urban Systems
Ltd. looked into the finance, governance and service delivery impacts associated with including portions of the area—that runs along the Columbia River from the city side of Beaver Creek all of the way to the U.S. border—into city limits. The study created a losing situation for all of the Beaver Valley, said Grieve, impacting Fruitvale and Montrose as well. She noted there would be a funding shortfall with the current Beaver Valley parks service, with the report showing
Rossland is still open for business!
See VILLAGES, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: 250-368-8551 Fax: 250-368-8550 Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012