The Fraser-Nicola MLA says a lack of bus service in the region continues to be a concern.

Jackie Tegart says a top priority in the riding is access to transportation. She says that result came from a recent constituency tour of the riding.

“We have a lot of smaller communities that are struggling,” Tegart says. “A lot of people who don’t have public transportation available to them, can’t get to medical appointments, are challenged around to getting to bigger centers for any kind of shopping needs.

The Fraser Canyon and much of the Nicola Valley has been without bus service since Greyhound cut its routes through that area back on May 31. Greyhound cut its service completely in B.C., save for one route from Vancouver to Seattle, on Oct. 31.

“People are looking for reliability for a good schedule. That was one of the challenges around Greyhound; even though it may have driven through the community, the timing was challenging for people to actually utilize the service.”

According to the Ministry of Transportation, 17 per cent of Greyhound’s previous routes had not yet been replaced as of a month ago. Those include routes from Kamloops north to the Alberta border, from Kamloops to Cache Creek and through the Fraser Canyon.

A company called Merritt Shuttle Bus Service has offered to operate buses through the Fraser Canyon and Nicola Valley, but so far hasn’t secured funding to start up. The company has until Jan. 7 to get two buses on the road or else it loses its license with the Passenger Transportation Board.