BC Transit has released its latest long term strategic plan.
The plan stresses the importance of affordability and safety alongside efforts to reduce traffic congestion and climate change.
Among BC Transit’s concrete goals: modernized fare collection that includes cellphone payment, and a fully electric, zero carbon-emission fleet by 2040.
“Climate change is a big challenge,” said BC Transit’s Director of Strategic Planning, Matthew Boyd.
Another major topic addressed was the entry of ride-hailing apps in the province, a change that BC Transit welcomes.
“We recognize that communities have a very diverse range of mobility options, and one size doesn’t always fit everything, said Boyd.
“We look at ride-hailing as another opportunity to improve the mobility experience for our communities. There may even be opportunities to integrate with ride-hailing companies,” he added.
Ride-hailing applications could potentially help bridge the gap between city transit and suburban or rural communities, through offering “first mile” and “last mile” service for individuals.
This model leaves city transit at the core of mobility, with ride-hailing services aiding in making transit more accessible.
Boyd identified funding as a major concern for BC Transit, saying: “investment in transit is very, very important.”
The full strategic plan is available online.
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