A feasibility study into a new bus route between Mission and Agassiz was presented to the Fraser Valley Regional District.
The proposed transit route would run along Lougheed Highway (Highway 7) from the Pioneer & Park exchange in downtown Agassiz to downtown Mission.
The trip spans 50 kilometres and lasts 60 minutes while accounting for travel and recovery time.
No public transit services currently exist between Mission and Agassiz, with approximately 3,800 people living along the proposed route per the study.
The study looked first at ridership demand, resources needed and service options.
“This will expand transportation accessibility and mobility for residents north of the Fraser River, including enhanced access to services and amenities, such as the Sts’ailes Community Care Campus, currently under construction,” the study reads.
The most expensive option provides six round trips per day at $466,167 for medium duty vehicles and the cheapest options at two round trips per day with light duty vehicles at $194,067.
At its meeting late in October, the Fraser Valley Regional District board voted unanimously in favour of referring the study back to staff. The board votes on the motion to implement phase two at the Nov. 28 meeting.
The second phase provides detailed costing, infrastructure requirements and public engagement with residents, First Nations and other stakeholders.
CORRECTION: The initial version of this story stated that the Fraser Valley Regional District board voted unanimously in favour of moving forward with phase two of the study but the board voted to refer the item to staff.
