Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland took an opportunity at council鈥檚 Feb. 21 regular meeting, to drive home a message to BC Transit leadership.
Representatives from the Crown corporation provided council with an update on the 麻豆精选 Regional Transit System (KRTS).
After the presentation, Ireland said they needed to discuss the elephant in the room.
鈥淭he contractor is taking money out of our community overseas which is exactly what happens,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nywhere else in the world that money would be reinvested in the infrastructure for that business. It鈥檚 not a profit centre.鈥�
KRTS is currently operated by Swedish company First Transit which signed a deal to sell its operations to French-based Transdev Group in October 2022.
READ MORE: 鈥楢nother foreign company鈥� looks to take over 麻豆精选 regional transit: Union
Ireland told the representatives that BC Transit needs to take a strong look at the KRTS is operated.
鈥淵our leadership really needs to hear that we need them to remove these contractors so that we can do this job properly and reinvest in our communities in our own country.鈥�
The mayor added that his comments were not a reflection of BC Transit but, again, of the contractor.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we have issues, that鈥檚 why we can鈥檛 keep bus drivers. Bus drivers don鈥檛 get paid enough to do what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� said Ireland.
BC Transit is seeking support from Central Okanagan municipalities as it applies for federal government grants to upgrade the aging Hardy Road bus yard and begin the design and planning for a new facility proposed for Hollywood Road.
READ MORE: A tale of two yards: Millions needed for new and old 麻豆精选 transit facilities
@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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