Ladysmith residents could see a new private transit service as soon as fall.
Lyle Jordan, of Emergency First Aid Service, said his non-emergency transport company is undergoing licensing amendments to run the Ladysmith Connector, which would accommodate passengers travelling from Ladysmith to Nanaimo and Duncan.
“This town is screaming for a transit service to link up Duncan and Nanaimo,” Jordan said. “It’s time to take the bull by the horns and just do it… We already have a serviceable fleet that’s operational, we have the trained members, the dedicated staff and the vehicles and the safety record to go behind the vehicles.”
While logistics and scheduling wrinkles are being smoothed out, Jordan is liasing with members of the community, business owners and the regional districts in Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley to determine where the needs are.
“We want this to be a community operation,” he said. “Albeit we’re all over the Island, we really want the Ladysmith Connector to be Ladysmith’s tourism gem. We want to be able to bring people here.”
Jordan said he would like to see the Ladysmith Connector provided to the residents of the town as tax free as possible.
“We don’t want to see the taxes in the township of Ladysmith go up because we are providing a bus service,” he said. “If we don’t get the ridership but there is a demand for it right off the bat, we may apply for a federal grant which is meant for improving the community.”
However, ridership will be the bottom line for continued service and Jordan projects there will need to be a minimum of 50 riders per day to keep the service tax free.
Councillor Jill Dashwood said it would be up to residents to ensure the success of the Connector if they wish to maintain the service.
“When we were at the town hall meeting, it was abundantly clear that people… wanted transit from Ladysmith to Duncan and Nanaimo,” she said.
“It was explained about our current limitations in terms of what we can do,” she said. “BC transit is not extending any of its services or creating new routes at the moment, they’re not going to do anything. So for the short term, I think this is a really wonderful idea.”
Jordan said that as a private transfer company, EFAS will not face the same road blocks as the Town of Ladysmith to obtain an Intercity bus license, which would be required for such a service. Once all the licensing is in place, Jordan plans to hold a grand opening of the Ladysmith Connector September 15.
Ladysmith Connector passengers will be transported in a modified eight passenger Ford E-350 high top which is handicap accessible for the interim until a feasibility study can be done.
“Ultimately, we’re going to upgrade up to a 23 passenger bus with handicapped capability which will run every hour and 15 minutes to opposite cities, and then if the strength and sustainability continues, we’re going to purchase a second bus and we’d like to start, every hour, runs to the cities separately,” Jordan said.
“We want to be able to make an effective transit system that is going to incorporate bringing tourists in to see the town for a day, and taking residents out to do everything from going to lunch with their friends to going to a movie, shopping or studying at Vancouver Island University.”
Pick up and drop off locations in Ladysmith are being planned for Coronation Mall and 49th Parallel Grocery. In Nanaimo, stops will include Harbour Park Mall and Vancouver Island University and in Duncan; Wal-Mart and City Square on Canada Avenue.
Passengers heading from Ladysmith to Nanaimo or Duncan can expect to pay $10 for a one way ticket.
Service will also include drop off-only runs to the Nanaimo Airport and Duke Point Ferry terminal.
Jordan would also like to incorporate incentives for riders such as discounts for purchases at stores nearest the drop off locations.
According to Jordan, the Ladysmith Connector would not compete with the Ladysmith Trolley, which has garnered some criticism in its two years of service.
“I think it’s a great system, I think though, that it has some serious failings that are not the fault of the township, it’s the fault of the rules they are stuck with,” he said.
Jordan said he is looking at ways to integrate the Ladysmith Trolley schedule with the Connector so passengers are able to get continuous service to their destination. But until licensing goes through all schedules are set by the provincial government.
“Hopefully this brings some form of ancillery ridership over to them,” he said of the Trolley.
Emergency First Aid Services is based out of Ladysmith, but provides non-emergency medical transport from Victoria to Port Alberni and the Comox Valley, as well as first aid services at events, first-aid training, and more.
Providing a transfer service between Nanaimo and Duncan is a natural extension, Jordan said.
There will be a community meeting regarding the Ladysmith Connector at Aggie Hall August 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jordan hopes everyone will attend to find out more about the Ladysmith Connector and offer their input and/or support.
