WHEREAS the Township of Esquimalt has sought to have BC Transit construct and maintain bus shelters, or alternatively to provide funding to municipalities for same; AND WHEREAS BC Transit does not fund or build bus shelters and encourages municipalities to seek development agreements or contracts with advertising providers; AND WHEREAS advertising providers only build bus shelters in high volume ridership areas; AND WHEREAS there is a compelling need to provide bus shelters along all routes to shelter bus passengers from inclement weather, thereby encouraging increased usage of public transit; AND WHEREAS both the federal and provincial governments have stated that one of their goals is to encourage ridership in public transit: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities encourage both the federal and provincial governments to allocate funding to local governments for the specific purpose of constructing and maintaining bus shelters to appropriate design standards on all approved bus routes.
Ministry of Transportation Transit shelters are provided by municipalities, local businesses and other agencies throughout British Columbia. Municipalities often choose to contract the provision of shelters to advertising companies, and sometimes receive revenue from this. However, in less busy areas, where advertising is not commercially viable, shelters are provided at municipal expense. The New Deal for Cities and Communities will transfer up to five cents of the federal gas tax to local governments beginning in 2005. This funding will assist municipalities in providing transportation infrastructure including transit supporting infrastructure such as bus stops and shelters. BC Transit is prepared to work with local governments to identify where these new funds and commercial revenue opportunities may be used to target priority locations and market groups.