TH
Nov 2nd 2019
T
FES
qathet Regional District
Population & Geography
67,000 people on an island that’s 60 kilometers long.
20,000 people on an isolated coastline that’s 55 kilometres long (from Lund to Saltery Bay).
Bus fares
Zero fares throughout the entire bus system.
All riders ages 4 and up: $2.25 within the City, and $8 to Texada (including the ferry fare).
County sales taxes and the State of Washington.
Fares represent about 17 percent of revenue. The rest is mostly provincial and local governments.
Nearly a million trips taken in 2015.
217,719 trips taken in 2018.
Sources of transit revenue Number of passengers
November 2 3 to 7pm, Dwight Hall
$35
I T
V
R
AL
River
Powell River Transit charges $2.25 for passengers ages 4 and up, including seniors. That might not sound like much, but for a family of four to ride to, say, the rec complex and home again, that’s an $18 venture (not including the pool dropin user fees, which bring this trip up to a whopping $31.05.) If you’ve ever seen a mostly-empty bus whoosh by and thought, “Hmm, why aren’t more people using this climatefriendly public amenity?” fares may be a clue. In Whidbey Island, where buses are free, each resident takes transit an average of about 15 times a year. Here in qathet, where fares are $2.25, we each take the bus an average of 11 times a year.
Whidbey Island Washington State
L
Powell
Free bus fares? We wouldn’t be the first. he pressure is on. Powell River Transit is currently considering a request from Powell River Youth Council to examine a no-fare model – at least for youth. It’s not that radical an idea. This year, the City of Victoria picked up the $850,000 tab for free transit for all youth under 19 who live in the city, paid for by the city’s new Sunday parking fees. At least part of the public transit system is free for everyone in Calgary, Winnipeg, Whistler, Squamish, Tacoma, Whidbey Island (see chart, below) and many other cities around the world – including Athens, Greece, where the entire city is fare-free (it’s not the only one; see www.freepublictransport.info).
A
ANN H T 6 U E
E
mox – Trudeau hasn’t been forthcoming with transit dollars. “They’re putting money into urban transit because that’s where the votes are,” qathet Regional District chair Patrick Brabazon told PRL. In response to Diane and Rae’s work, he has organized a meeting with Sunshine Coast Regional District representatives this month, with a plan to work together to find a BC Transit solution to the bus-to-Vancouver problem – which would potentially drive through three separate Transit jurisdictions. “I have great sympathy for Diane and Rae,” said Patrick. “Unfortunately they are attempting to do something outside the bounds of local government at the moment. Nevertheless, the nudge to us is valuable because it does push us in the direction of getting the service they want.” Patrick said he’d be “ecstatic” to see a BC Transit service that links Powell River with the Vancouver Airport. But so far, there’s no obvious body or funding source for the service. Meanwhile, Metro Vancouver is building for an efficient, green future, thanks to the Feds. “I just want a f$#*ing bus,” said Rae.
BE
(worth more than $388 million a year, or nearly 20 percent of the system’s total revenue), bridge tolls, a parking tax, a levy on hydro bills, and massive infrastructure spending by the federal government the likes of which Powell River just does not see. To fund a regular bus to Vancouver or free fares, there is obviously no way that Powell River drivers could absorb a .17 cent per litre increase on our gas prices, on top of our already-vying-for-highestin-Canada pump prices (would anyone accept $1.87 a litre without rioting?) And placing additional taxes on hydro bills or charging for parking won’t go over well in a region with a median household income that’s already nearly $17,000 less than BC’s ($53,056 versus $69,995,) and nearly one quarter of local children are living in poverty. Which leaves federal funding. Trudeau’s government has poured several billions into Metro Vancouver’s much-needed transit megaprojects: SkyTrain to UBC and Langley, and much more. But here, without a megaproject to request federal funds for – such as a monorail to Vancouver or a bridge to Co-
Ace Brewing - Comox Beach Fire Brewing - Campbell River Bricker Cider - Sechelt Boombox Brewing - Vancouver Cannery Brewing - Penticton Central City Brewing - Vancouver Cumberland Brewing - Cumberland Driftwood - Victoria Tapworks - Gibsons Gladstone Brewing - Courtenay Forbidden - Courtenay Hoyne - Victoria Land and Sea Brewing - Comox Longwood Brewing - Nanaimo Love Shack Libations - Qualicum New Tradition - Comox Odd Society Distillery - Vancouver Parallel 49 - Vancouver Parkside Brewing - Port Moody Persephone - Gibsons Sheringham Distillery - Sooke Spinnakers - Victoria Sea Cider - Victoria The 101 Brewery - Gibsons Twin City Brewing - Port Alberni Tofino Distillery - Tofino
Includes one burger or bratwurst Door prizes Tickets on sale at Duke’s and at eventbrite.ca Pop-up Liquor Store Merchandise Table
romeo.styles@prbeerfest.ca POWELL RIVER LIVING • october 2019 •
21
