A Sechelt-based bus company has received approval from the BC government to provide service on the Sunshine Coast, including Powell River.
Lana Zanazovsky, spokesperson for Sunshine Coast Connector, said the company has received its approval from the BC Passenger Transportation Board.
“It’s quite a relief,” said Zanazovsky. “It wasn’t very easy to obtain. We did everything we could to get it. We put a lot of effort into it.”
Zanazovsky said having the support for the service from local governments on both sides of Jervis Inlet meant a lot and went far in securing the approval.
“That was a big plus,” she said. “I know there were a few others trying to get the licence, so it feels nice that we were the ones chosen.”
The company is now working on acquiring buses, developing its marketing with a website and setting fares.
“We just got [approval] last week,” said Zanazovsky. “Now we’re just organizing everything.”
Zanazovsky said the company is still aiming for a May 1 launch, but depending on how quickly details are worked out, it could take until mid-month for service to start.
She estimated it will take a couple of weeks to have a website online and more detailed information available for the public.
Sunshine Coast Connector applied for government approval on two Sunshine Coast routes this winter, daily service on the Lower Sunshine Coast between Earls Cove and Langdale ferry terminals and direct service a few days per week between Powell River and Vancouver.
