Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom has released the report of the BC Transit Independent Review. The report lists 18 recommendations following extensive consultations with local government and BC Transit.

Lekstrom called for an independent review after listening to the concerns of some mayors and other locally elected officials about BC Transit's performance and operations. The panel also examined communications between BC Transit and local government, how BC Transit is governed in the Capital Regional District and how funding relationships operate.

The independent panel held 25 meetings with 40 local governments and received 30 written submissions. In addition to consulting local government and BC Transit, the panel met with private transit operators, the Canadian Auto Workers, the BC Transit Board of Directors and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.

The final report is being posted online to give local governments, BC Transit and the provincial government time to consider the panel's recommendations. Lekstrom plans to consider each recommendation before providing an official response at the 2012 annual convention of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities this September.

Quotes:

Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure -

"I would like to thank local governments, BC Transit and others for participating in this important review. Thank you to the independent panel for providing us with a well-prepared report. It is very important to put the panel's recommendations out there and provide time for everyone to consider each recommendation carefully. We have a great transit system across British Columbia, but there is always room for improvement."

Joe Stanhope, chair, Regional District of Nanaimo -

"This has been a very good process conducted by an excellent three-member panel. The independent panel worked hard to obtain meaningful feedback from local governments, and the resulting report will be very helpful as we move forward. I would like to thank the Minister of Transportation for his strong support for this independent review."

Heath Slee, president, Union of BC Municipalities -

"The approach taken by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on this file has been consultative and helpful. As the provincial government begins to consider how it will respond to the recommendations, I encourage local governments to review the report and provide feedback to the minister."

Quick Facts:

• BC Transit is the provincial Crown agency charged with co-ordinating the delivery of public transportation throughout British Columbia, outside of Metro Vancouver.

• In most municipalities, the B.C. government contributes 47 per cent of funding for conventional transit service and local governments contribute 53 per cent. Local funding includes fare and advertising revenue and property tax.

• In Greater Victoria, the B.C. government contributes 32 per cent of funding for conventional transit service and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission contributes 68 per cent of funding. Local funding includes advertising and fare revenue, property tax and regional fuel tax.

• BC Transit works in partnership with 58 local government partners to provide public transit services in over 130 communities:

• Contracts with 18 private operating companies, five public operating organizations and 14 non-profit agencies.

• Carried 51.6 million passenger trips in 2011-12.

• Serves more than 1.5 million people in B.C.

• Operates 81 transit systems.

• Owns a fleet of 1,001 conventional and double-deck buses, minibuses and vans.

• Delivered 2,170,00 total service hours in 2011-12.

• Had total expenditures in 2011-12 of $262 million.

Learn More:

To view a copy of the final report and learn more about the independent review of BC Transit, please visit: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/BC_Transit_Review/index.html

Minister Lekstrom and Regional District of Nanaimo chair Joe Stanhope discuss the report. Audio:
http://snd.sc/NBGxgG

http://snd.sc/NBHJkb

Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241