LOCAL NEWS: NEW LOCATION FOR XMAS TREE LIGHT-UP W A7 Thursday, November 22, 2012 W Volume 47 No. 47 W www.clearwatertimes.com W $1.40 Includes HST
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Pennell questions proposed bus schedule cutbacks Keith McNeill A proposal by Greyhound to cut back on its schedule would be bad news for the North Thompson Valley and particularly for small communities such as Vavenby, according to Tim Pennell, Thompson-Nicola Regional District director for Wells Gray Country (Area A). “It’s just a kick in the teeth for rural residents,” he said. Whether going north or south, at present the bus only goes into Vavenby during its daytime runs, Pennell said. People wanting to leave or arrive during the nighttime are picked up or left on the highway. Those wanting to leave at night need to get their tickets the day before (or print them off from the Internet). If the daytime runs are eliminated, as Greyhound has requested, the situation for residents of small communities such as Vavenby could be far more difficult, Pennell felt. Clearwater Mayor John Harwood has gone on record as opposing the proposed bus service cutbacks because
of the effect they would have on social services. Greyhound applied last month to reduce its level of service on 15 of its runs, citing losses of $14 million per year. Service through the North Thompson Valley would be cut back from two runs going east per day and two runs going west to just one going each way. Both of the remaining runs through the Valley would be during the night. TNRD directors voted during their Oct. 11 board meeting to send a letter to the BC Passenger Transportation Board expressing extreme disappointment regarding the proposed reduction of Greyhound Canada Transportation service and the continued erosion of services to rural communities. The TNRD also was to send a letter to the provincial government requesting that, in light of the proposed cutbacks in bus transportation and prior cutbacks in Greyhound service routes, the monopoly on bus transportation be reviewed with a focus on local solutions.
Stop for schoolbuses A schoolbus stops with its lights flashing and stop-sign out as a youngster runs to meet her mother. There have been several incidents of vehicles ignoring signals to stop for schoolbuses lately, local schoolbus drivers report. For a letter to the editor on the subject, see page A4 inside. Photo by Keith McNeill
Birthday boy
Council awards roads strategy contract Keith McNeill
Ray Austin (l) gets a hug from his stepdaughter, Rose Marlow, as he celebrates his 98th birthday with cake at the Wells Gray Inn on Monday afternoon. The coffee shop was pretty well full with family members and well-wishers. Originally from Collingwood Corner, Nova Scotia, Austin has lived in Clearwater for about 45 years. Photo by Keith McNeill
District of Clearwater will take over road maintenance within its boundaries in September, 2013. To prepare for the transition, town council voted during its Nov. 6 meeting to award a $14,000 contract to Urban Systems to develop a road strategy for the municipality. According to a report from public works superintendent Jared Brounstein, Urban Systems will create a base map and classification maps showing arterial, collector and local roads, bus routes, plus heavy truck routes. The consultants will prepare draft service levels (for example, the depth of snow on collector roads before plowing is prescribed) for each road maintenance activity. Cost implications for the vari-
ous service levels will be outlined to help council decide about the trade-offs of service versus cost. Urban Systems will outline short and medium term road maintenance approaches, explore coordination with neighboring communities, and discuss with council about service level options and the contracting process. The District also received a somewhat lower bid (at $5,800) from True Consulting to do the same work. However, Brounstein pointed out that Urban Systems is the municipality’s engineer and using them to develop the road strategy would therefore result in greater consistency. The public works superintendent also reported that staff felt Urban Systems has the background and skill level to meet the District’s needs.
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