Proposed Bus Service fails to meet deadline

A Merritt based company hoping to provide bus service in the Cariboo has failed to meet its deadline by the Passenger Transportation Board.

Merritt Shuttle Bus Service was not able to secure funding to have at least two buses licensed and registered by Friday, March 8.

Director of Operations Gene Field thanks everyone who showed their support, and said without it, it would have been a more difficult road.

“The response from the people was what kept us going even though there were times where it was tough and we didn’t think it was going to happen,” he told MyCaribooNow late Friday afternoon.

“Our MLA Jackie Tegart was fantastic. She really tried hard to push this for us and the other MLAs; Coralee Oakes was fantastic- her office was very cooperative and some of the mayors that I’d spoken with were positive and on board and looking forward to it.”

“My wife and I were really grateful for all that, and for all the wonderful people that we met. I met a lot of really nice people and we had a lot of fun doing it. Unfortunately, the fun is over, but you know that’s okay.”

Field said if another company wants to come in to take over and provide the service that is basically all he wants to see; to see people get to their doctor appointments, to be able to see their loved ones, or even be able to get to their jobs up north.

“Obviously the government is not going to step up and do anything about it,” he said.

“So if some local company or someone in the province wants to step up and take over my routes they can have them. I’d like to be able to work with them because I’ve built a lot of relationships with a lot of the people that I’ve talked to and even met in person to discuss pickups and dropoffs.”

“I’ve met a lot of fantastic people so it hasn’t been a loss.”

Merritt Shuttle Bus Service would have operated routes from Merritt to Prince George, to Langley, and to Kelowna.

With files from Rebecca Dyok, MyCaribooNow