By Ashley Legassic

New passenger bus service approved for Cariboo, Southern Interior

Apr 1, 2019 | 11:44 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — At least six communities will be served by a new passenger bus service aimed at filling the gap Greyhound left behind.

Williams Lake-based Adventure Charter and Rentals (ACR) applied to the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) at the end of February to provide a new bus service through the Cariboo and Southern Interior.

The service will operate two routes. The first would serve at least 13 communities from Prince George to Surrey, with route points including Surrey, Clinton, Chilliwack, 70 Mile House, Abbotsford, 100 Mile House, Hope, Williams Lake, Boston Bar, Lytton, Prince George and Cache Creek.

The second would serve six communities on Highway 97 from Williams Lake to Kamloops, with stops including Kamloops, 70 Mile House, Cache Creek, 100 Mile House, Clinton and Williams Lake.

Each route would serve two trips per week and operate year-round on a reservation basis.

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The PTB says it is fast-tracking applications to encourage other operators to fill the gap left by Greyhound’s exit. According to the decision, ACR wants to schedule beneficial routes for all users.

“We want to provide safe travel within the Interior of BC that easily links to transportation infrastructure already in place,” ACR stated. “For example, we want to schedule a route that is easily connectable in Prince George to BC Bus North and the Sky Train in Surrey for the South, allowing passengers to easily travel beyond our own… route to provide a service that is as seamless as possible.”

The company will operate seven buses ranging in capacity from 12 to 36 passenger. If the routes prove to be viable, any future bus purchases by ACR would be wheelchair accessible.

“The panel finds that the applicant has the experience, operational knowledge and capacity to service the (two) proposed routes,” the PTB decision states. “We find the applicant to be a fit and proper person who has the necessary skills and infrastructure in place.”

The application was approved in whole.