Santa bus
BC Transit, the City of Powell River and the Powell River Regional District are bringing the Santa bus back just in time for the holiday season.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves are making the journey from the North Pole to Powell River. The Santa bus will run on December 13 and 14 on regular scheduled service throughout Powell River, including rural transit on December 13.
The Santa bus is easy to spot, with reindeer antlers and a reindeer nose. Santa will be handing out candy canes to transit customers. Even those who may be on the “naughty list” this year will find 25-cent transit rides a nice treat while travelling on the Santa bus on December 13 and 14.
BC Transit customers should also be aware of the holiday schedule: December 24, regular service until 7 pm, then no evening service; December 25, no service; December 26 and 27, Sunday/holiday service; December 31, regular service until 7 pm, then no evening service; January 1, no service; and January 2, regular service resumes.
For more information on transit in the Powell River area, please call 604.485.4287 or visit BC Transit online.
Truck route
City of Powell River elected officials will be considering a truck route sometime in the future.
A proposed truck route presented by staff includes routes for both dangerous and non-dangerous cargo. The dangerous cargo route follows Highway 101, from south of town all the way through to north of town, with an area that goes directly to Catalyst Paper Corporation’s Powell River mill. The non-dangerous truck route includes Joyce Avenue from the intersection at Manson Avenue to the intersection at Highway 101.
The proposed route allows for vehicles to go up Duncan Street into Paradise Valley. In the Cranberry and Upper Westview area, the route encompasses Manson all the way through to the intersection of Cranberry Street, then north through Townsite to the mill and back to the highway. To the south, it meets up with Duncan where trucks can go either east or west.
Some issues brought forward during meetings with local trucking and logistics companies included the concern that the dangerous goods route was too restrictive and forced large trucks through congested areas, such as the Marine Avenue business district. Suggested alternative routes included Willingdon Avenue, but Willingdon isn’t a viable option, according to city staff, because of its narrow width, its vision obstructions and the poor condition of the road.
Another issue in the discussions was the Cranberry gravel pit and, in the end, staff determined it was more efficient to allow trucks to access the gravel pit on Cranberry from both the north and south, instead of restricting traffic from passing by Lindsay Park. While the area around the gravel pit is not part of the truck route, drivers have been instructed to take the most direct route to and from their destination if it is off the designated route. Truckers are not allowed to use engine brakes (jake brakes) within city boundaries.
Elected officials have directed staff to include the truck route as a schedule in the traffic bylaw. That bylaw is expected to come before council for initial readings in the near future. The city is not holding any other public consultation about the proposed truck route.
