A controversial proposal to move a bus stop away from a spot outside a local Sikh temple was referred to staff during a city council meeting on Monday, but not before one council member expressed opposition to the move.
BC Transit wants to relocate the stop from Davis Road, west of the Guru Nanak Darbar Temple, to Ospika Boulevard.
The Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Society has responded with a a 280 signature petition opposing the step and emphasizing the safety of seniors as a reason it should be rejected.
The move is part of its changes to several routes. One of these will see routes 88 Westgate and 89 Hart become 80 Hart/Spruceland, 81 Spruceland/Westgate and 82 Westgate.
The petition concerns the new route 81, which will remain on Ospika and no longer provide direct service along Davis and Baker roads.
Civic operations director Blake McIntosh said the changes were developed jointly by the City and BC Transit. Details concerning the changes and how they can be reversed will be provided in staff's report to council and it should be ready by the end of June.
In a report, BC Transit states the changes will “improve service frequency along the new route 81 to 20 or 15 minutes through most of the peak hours (11 a.m.-4 p.m.).
Route 81 will travel via Ferry Avenue to Ospika rather than Range Road.
The report states that the changes could begin in September.
