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Squamish Local Area Transit Plan Survey

Please share your thoughts on the proposed transit route restructuring to support a frequent transit route between Downtown and Garibaldi Village, as well as options for new service in South Squamish. 

This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and your feedback is greatly appreciated.

1.  

By completing this survey, you acknowledge that you are voluntarily participating and may withdraw at any time before submitting the survey.

BC Transit is unable to survey respondents under age 18. If you are under age 18, please refrain from responding to this survey.

Personal Information:
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Your personal information is being collected for the purpose of administering the survey and any contests you have opted to participate in, and for improving our programs and services. This information is collected under section 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). If you have any questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of this information, please contact BC Transit’s Privacy Office by telephone at 1∙250∙385∙2551; via email to Privacy@BCTransit.com; or by regular mail to 520 Gorge Road East, Victoria, BC V8W 2P3.

* required
2.  

Which neighbourhood do you live in?

Please do not include any information that could identify you or another person in your response
3.  

Do you currently use transit in Squamish?

Service Design Questions – Frequent Transit Network (FTN) Route

The 2022 Squamish Transit Future Action Plan recommends a Frequent Transit Network (FTN) route operating between Downtown and Garibaldi. This new route will replace current routes 1 Brackendale and 2 Highlands for the section between downtown and Garibaldi Village. Service levels will be increased over time until the route has 15-minute service between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the week. For all options, service levels between Downtown and Garibaldi Village would improve compared to what is currently offered.

The next section of this survey looks at three different options being proposed for the FTN route. We’ll outline the three options and then ask you which one you prefer. There are a few other route changes that are also being considered alongside the creation of the FTN. We’ll ask you which of these other changes you prefer in a separate question.

Option 1: Downtown to Garibaldi Village via Brennan Park

  • The existing route 1 Brackendale is split into two new routes, a FTN route that travels between Garibaldi Village and Downtown via Brennan Park (new route 1), and another that travels between Garibaldi Village and Brackendale (new route 6). 
  • Route 2 Highlands is shortened to run between Garibaldi Village and the university. 
  • Route 4 Garibaldi could stay as is, or travel via Loggers Lane between Brennan Park and Industrial. Longer term, there may be the option to extend route 3 Valleycliffe to the Adventure Centre.


Opportunities: 

  • Brennan Park would be served by the FTN route.
  • During peak periods, routes 1 and 6 would use the same bus. This means passengers would have a one-seat ride between Brackendale and Downtown.
  • During other times of the day, routes 1 and 2 would use the same bus. This means passengers would have a one-seat ride between Garibaldi Highlands, the university and Downtown during off-peak times.
  • Adjustments to route 4 could introduce new service along Loggers Lane. Another option would be for route 4 to remain as is, and travel to and from downtown via the highway.


Considerations:

  • Extending the FTN to Brennan Park on all trips makes the trip longer for other passengers.
  • In off-peak periods, a transfer would be required for Brackendale riders wishing to continue Downtown.
  • For some trips, passengers going to/from Garibaldi Highlands would need to transfer at Garibaldi Village.
  • Connections between routes 3 and 4 at the Adventure Centre are not considered in this option.

Option 2: Downtown to Garibaldi Village via Government

  • A new route 1 FTN is created and travels between Garibaldi Village and Downtown via Government.  
  • A new route 6 Brackendale is introduced and operates between Downtown and Brackendale via the highway and Loggers Lane. 
  • Route 2 Highlands is shortened to operate between Garibaldi Village and the university.
  • Route 4 Garibaldi/Downtown could either stay as is or terminate at Garibaldi Village.



Opportunities:

  • Using the same bus for most trips on routes 1 and 2 would provide a one-seat ride between Garibaldi Highlands, the university and Downtown.
  • Passengers could still get from Brackendale to Downtown without transferring buses.
  • New route 6 would replace existing route 1. This route would be shifted over to Loggers Lane between Brennan Park and Industrial, introducing new service to that area.
  • Not serving Brennan Park on the FTN means a shorter trip for passengers travelling to/from Downtown via this new route.
  • Longer term, there may be the option to extend route 3 to the Adventure Centre, allowing for passengers to access Brennan Park via transferring to route 6.


Considerations:

  • Route 9 would be discontinued, and its resources put into other routes. Travel times to/from the university would be slightly longer than on the current route 9.
  • Brennan Park would not be served via the FTN. Service to Brennan Park would be maintained via route 6, and transfers would be available downtown, at Walmart and Garibaldi Village.

Option 3: Downtown to Capilano University, via Garibaldi Village and Brennan Park

  • A new route 1 FTN is created and travels between the university and Downtown. 
  • Service to Brackendale is maintained via new route 6, which would continue Downtown via Loggers Lane and the highway during peak periods. 
  • Route 2 Highlands would be shortened to travel between Garibaldi Highlands and Garibaldi Village. 
  • Route 4 Garibaldi could either stay as is, or end at Garibaldi Village.


Opportunities:

  • Brennan Park would be served by the FTN route.
  • During peak periods, route 6 would extend Downtown and allow for a one-seat ride between Brackendale and Downtown.
  • Extending the FTN to the university would mean more service is provided to that part of Squamish.
  • Longer term, there may be the option to extend route 3 to the Adventure Centre, allowing for passengers to access Brennan Park via transferring to route 6.


Considerations:

  • Extending the FTN to Brennan Park and the university makes the trip longer. Longer routes are more expensive to implement, so service levels may improve more slowly.
  • Outside of peak periods, passengers going to/from Brackendale would need to transfer at Garibaldi Village.
  • Route 9 would be discontinued, and its resources reinvested into other routes.
4.  

Which option for the FTN do you prefer?

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

Please do not include any information that could identify you or another person in your response.

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

Please do not include any information that could identify you or another person in your response

Service Design Questions – South Squamish Service

There are two options for service to South Squamish. For this study, South Squamish refers to Downtown, Oceanfront, Adventure Centre, SEAandSKY, St’a7mes and Redbridge.

BC Transit is currently piloting OnDemand transit service in Kelowna. If the pilot project is successful and if Squamish is selected as a candidate for OnDemand service, then there is the option of introducing it in the South Squamish area.

OnDemand is a service where passengers book trips using a smartphone app or over the phone. With this option, passengers are picked up and dropped off within a defined zone, where they can transfer to another route if their destination is outside of that zone.

The other option is a new, year-round fixed route, operating between Sp’akw’us Feather Park and the Highway 99/Valley Drive area, with stops at the Adventure Centre, SEAandSKY and Red Bridge communities, and either St’a7mes or Valley Drive.

We’ll provide more information on the two options and then ask you which one you prefer. If OnDemand is possible in Squamish, your feedback will help determine which option to proceed with. 

Option 1: South Squamish OnDemand Service

  • Introduce OnDemand service to south Squamish. 
  • This year-round service operates with smaller vehicles within fixed zones. 
  • Passengers reserve their spots in advance by booking trips through a smartphone app or over the phone. 
  • Instead of having a fixed schedule, service operates on an as-needed basis to and from a list of pick-up and drop-off locations.
  • The exact hours of operation would be determined in part by what we hear during public engagement. If this is your preferred option, we’ll ask you a follow up question about when you would use this service, as well as get your feedback on any additional parts of Squamish we should be considering for OnDemand zones.

Opportunities:

  • Service operates on an as-needed basis.
  • Trip times will generally be shorter than with fixed route service.
  • Based on a passenger’s destination, a one seat ride may be possible.


Considerations:

  • Depending on the time of day, wait times for trips may vary.
  • Passengers must request service in advance; the bus does not use a fixed schedule and will not pick up passengers without reservations.

Option 2: South Squamish Fixed Route Service

  • Introduce a new fixed route between Sp’akw’us Feather Park and the Highway 99/Valley Drive area, with stops at the Adventure Centre, SEAandSKY and Red Bridge communities, and either St’a7mes or Valley Drive. 
  • This route would operate year-round and connect passengers in these growing areas to Downtown Squamish and the rest of the transit network.


Opportunities:

  • Fixed route service means that trips operate on a defined schedule, with no need to book a journey in advance.
  • This fixed route would stop at the Adventure Centre, providing connections to Skylynx, the Squamish Connector and possibly future regional transit service.


Considerations:

  • Service would operate approximately every hour to begin with, with frequency growing over time.
  • Depending on a passenger’s destination, a transfer may be required.

7.  

Which option for service in South Squamish do you prefer?

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

Please do not include any information that could identify you or another person in your response.

Demographic Information

BC Transit is requesting some demographic information as part of this survey to apply Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+). GBA+ looks not only at gender, but also other intersecting identity factors such as age, race and disability to understand how different groups and individuals may experience policies, programs and initiatives. Collecting this information will help BC Transit make service decisions by considering multiple perspectives in transit planning.

9.  

How do you identify?

10.  

Please specify your age group:

11.  

Do you identify as a person with a disability? Examples of disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Mental health disability: Psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance addiction.
  • Physical Disability: Paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes.
  • Sensory Disability: Hearing loss, vision loss.
  • Neurodevelopmental: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Intellectual disability.
  • Learning disorder: Dyslexia.
12.  

Do you identify as an Indigenous Person, that is, a person who identifies with Aboriginal, First Nation (Status/Non-Status), Metis or Inuk (Inuit) cultural and/or ancestral background?

13.  

In addition to, or other than your gender identity and/or identifying as an Indigenous Person and/or identifying as a person with a disability, do you identify as belonging to ADDITIONAL equity-seeking groups? Equity-seeking groups are communities that face significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization could be created by attitudinal, historic, social and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation, transgender status, etc.


Please check if applicable:

• [1] Deaf persons include individuals who are culturally-Deaf, deaf, or have hearing loss, as well as those who identify as hard-of-hearing, oral-deaf, deaf-blind or late-deafened. Persons with disabilities and persons living with mental illness include individuals with physical, psycho-social or learning disabilities that may be long-term, temporary or fluctuating and may or may not be apparent. • [2] Please note that BC Transit subscribes to the social model of disability, which views disability as a consequence of environmental, social and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society, as opposed to the medical model of disability that focuses on an individual person’s so-called physical or mental limitations. (Adapted from the Public Service Alliance of Canada's definitions of models of disability.) • [3] BC Transit acknowledges that Persons of Colour is an umbrella term for a diverse spectrum of racialized peoples who have experienced vastly different historical disadvantages and barriers to participation in Canadian society and recognizes its use as a term to build understanding and solidarity between people. • [4] This refers to individuals who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual or two-spirited.