Region on board with transit study

By Tracy Clark - Penticton Western News - May 25, 2008

A move by the regional district to study intra-regional transit initiatives could conflict with similar efforts by the four largest municipalities, say Penticton councillors. “It’s a positive conundrum,” said Rory McIvor, a Penticton councillor who sits on the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, at Thursday’s board meeting. His comments came as the regional board voted to endorse a joint application with Kelowna and Vernon for funding the $400,000 study. Addressing regional transit was stated as a goal for the RDOS this year under its strategic goals and objects and Regional Growth Strategy and regional district staff have since been working with the Vernon and Kelowna to look at existing systems and ways to improve them. But Penticton Mayor Jake Kimberley, who along with John Vassilaki opposed endorsing the application, said the efforts by the RDOS parallel those by the cities of Penticton, Westbank, Kelowna and Vernon under a proposed bylaw to increase collaboration by the four largest municipalities. That bylaw is intended to allow the cities to discuss and find solutions to common issues in the valley, such as transit, air and water quality and land use planning.

Kimberley was hoping the RDOS would table its efforts until the mayors approve that bylaw on June 5, when they plan to invite other municipalities in the valley to the table. Furthermore, Kimberley said the large municipalities are better equipped than regional districts to address intra-regional transit because they already have an existing relationship with B.C. Transit. But city engineering services manager Andrew Reeder said the application for the study has already been submitted to the Union of B.C. municipalities and the endorsement was just a formality. Also, he said the study will look at more than just transit, it will also consider other transportation alternatives, such as cycling paths, trails and other trans-modal options. Another concern among representatives in Summerland and West Bench was that the study could stall efforts to create a sub-regional transit system between Summerland, West Bench and Penticton.

“It’s a local system that already has support from the public,” said Ron Perrie, the director for West Bench of a study that indicated the majority of residents were in favour of expanding the transit system to include the West Bench area. But Reeder stressed the applications are not mutually exclusive — the study would not prohibit that system from moving ahead. “The intent of the study is not to cause harm to existing systems,” he said. Princeton Mayor Randy McLean said he was just happy to see the regions co-operating on an initiative that could have positive implications for large and small communities. The application has also received support from the City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, UBC Okanagan, Interior Health and the central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.