The provincial government has earmarked $3 million to continue and expand the system of community shuttle buses in northern B.C.
Northern Development Initiative Trust is administering the program and began accepting applications on November 15.
Applicants, including agencies that have previously received community shuttle bus funding, can seek a maximum of $100,000 for capital costs, such as a vehicle purchase, and operating costs to a maximum of $150,000. Total funding per applicant is capped at $200,000.
The deadline for submitting an application is December 23 and decisions on who will be awarded grants will occur sometime n 2022.
The provincial government has funded community buses, since 2017 as part of the Highway 16 Transportation Action. They have generally been used to connect more isolated communities to the region's highways where a variety of services are now operating.
In 2018, after Greyhound discontinued service in the region, the provincial government launched the long-haul inter-city service, BC Bus North.
As well, BC Transit has been providing a community-to-community service along along Highway 16 East since midway through 2017.
In mid-November, the B.C. Auditor General criticized the provincial government for failing to produce a long-term plan for busing in northern B.C. and for failing to establish a system that matched the frequency and number of stops Greyhound provided.
The northern community shuttle program will replace the existing community transportation grant program, which will end on March 31, 2022.
