VICTORIA - Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom has initiated an independent review of BC Transit operations and performance at the request of mayors and other elected officials from throughout the province.

Audio clip: Minister Lekstrom's announcement of the BC Transit Review (soundcloud.com)

Lekstrom sent a letter to about 50 local governments advising them of his decision.

Excerpt from Minister Lekstrom's letter:

I am writing to follow up on discussions with local government representatives in Victoria on September 14, 2011, and at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, as well as points raised in your April 20, 2011 letter. Our government is committed to listening to the needs of British Columbia's communities and working together to address them.

After hearing the views expressed by the community leaders at our meetings, I agree it's worth reviewing how transit service is delivered in our province. An independent review of BC Transit will be undertaken that will examine transit system operations and performance, governance, funding and local government consultation and communication processes. I'm committed to working with the municipalities served by BC Transit, and the UBCM, throughout this process.

To assist with defining the scope, timeframe and process of the review, I ask that you identify a staff contact to work with the ministry. I am also asking, by way of this letter, that the UBCM identify a contact to assist with this review.

Quick Facts:

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

The corporation's mandate is to "plan, acquire, construct or cause to be constructed public passenger transportation systems and rail systems that support regional growth strategies, official community plans and the economic development of transit service areas".

BC Transit links communities, businesses and lifestyles in over 50 communities throughout the province:

• 58 local government funding partners, including the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.
• Operations provided by 18 private operating companies, five public operating organizations and 15 non-profit agencies. 
• 51.2 million passengers carried in 2010-11. 
• Over 1.5 million people served in B.C. 
• 81 transit system agreements - conventional, custom and paratransit. 
• Fleet of 1,028 conventional and double-deck buses, minibuses and vans. 
• $249 million in expenditures in 2010-11.
  

Media Contact:

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