The Thompson Nicola Regional District wants to hear more about BC Transit’s plans to regionalize four transit systems into one.

The regional model will see one company follow BC Transit’s approved standards and maintenance requirements and operate the buses in Kamloops, Merritt, Ashcroft/Cache Creek, and Clearwater, which are currently run by three different companies.

BC Transit’s Government Relations Manager Elise Wren says that plan – which is slated to begin August of next year – has already been delayed by at least a year.

“The concerns that we heard are about the long standing relationship with their current operator, specifically in Clearwater with Yellowhead Community Services. Another concern as for rising costs, and then also a concern that local government wasn’t consulted about this business decision.”

She noted the TNRD is the last region in B-C to move to this model.

“Currently there are challenges with leasing space and the cost and availability of third party maintenance,” said Wren.  “The benefits to regionalization include oversight of one fleet as I mentioned and a more controlled cost.”

Merritt-area Director David Laird says he was disappointed with Wren’s presentation at a recent TNRD committee meeting.

“We’re so familiar with all this regionalization and it hasn’t worked for us anywhere in the regional district.”

Kamloops Councillor Dale Bass is also not impressed with the proposal.

“It’s like they don’t know what goes on up here, because I have the feeling that they just didn’t care,” said Bass.  “I think they need to see that we’re not Abbotsford, Mission, or Hope. I’d like to move that we invite them up here to see what they’re talking about.”

It’s not clear when TNRD Directors will have their sit down with BC Transit officials, as they’re hoping to also take them around the region to see the potential impacts first hand.