THE VOICE ¢

1OHe News WBS. 2944

> dune 24,

£ Vassified ORD. 222

“THE ANNOUNCE D ‘Jan. 2, closure of North Vancouver’ r’s
B.C. Transit bus depot. has raised concerns (that the loss of 2
_feady supply. of buses may cut local emergency’ evacuation
_capacity. | in the event of a major North Shore disaster.

B.C. Transit expects the move to
"« close the’Gast Third Street. depot
and operate North Shore buses
from the Kitchener Street garage in
‘Burnaby will save the corporation
$564,000 per. year. : ;

But local. RCMP and emergency ©

program officials are worried ‘that
the’ loss: of the buses will mean a
parallel loss of valuable. emergency
‘ transportation.

— As‘outlined in the North Shore

‘Disaster Plans North Vaneouver

responsible ‘for
of local areas in an
Said the detuchmeat's

RCMP are
evacuation
emergency.

Cpl. Ewen Freethy, **The buses are ,

our only organized thing. ‘Taxi

companies and school buses are an’:

option, but aren't-as practical.’"
Freethy said ‘current’ plans: call
for police to > contact B.C. Transit

Distribution ORGANI

the’

Mi pagers

“eentral dispatch for extra, buses

when needed. In the event of tele-
phone communication breakdown,
Freethy said buses on the road
would be: pulled into evacuation
service from Phibbs Exchange and
Lonsdale Quay.

“Tif the evacuation can
handied with on-duty buses’ and
drivers, then. it's okay.’* said
Freethy. “If the bridges are out

and we can't get any aver here if °

we need them, then we’
-blems;' :

But Fi reethy added, “Basically
we don't'see a disaster happening
sthat is going to require tore buses

than are on the road?"

ec OL pro-

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PAGE 21. |

be.

“

But said Jeff Jefferd,
dinator of the North & West ¥
couver Emergency Program,
been an advantage to have access
tovthose buses 24 hours a day.
We'll have to look elsewhere for
that type of equipment.”"

Jefferd said the 28 Blue. Buses

Vani

based on Lloyd Avenue are already -

incorporated into the West. Van-
couver emergency plan.

“The Blue Buses may. be able to
fulfill the possible need, bur we
‘were lucky to “have both
bases,’ ‘he said.

There are. 46 buses currently
based at the North Vancouver

B.C. Transit garage.

AGT OK
the spothgat. : .

coor
“hess

“hours. while

bus.

‘number

ler Brahartshi vaadeg :

According to. Mike “Mullan,
vice-president of the Independent.
Canadian Transit Union Local 1,
most dre in service’ during. rush
fess than half. are
parked during off-peak periods.

“The feeling the drivers have,”
Mullan said, “is that if the Second.
Narrows Bridge. is down, the North
Shore would be feft vulnerable.”

But. said” Brian Kelly, acting
director of North’ Vancouver
Transit and SeaBus, ‘‘The: idea in
an emergency. is for the police’ to
grab‘the first available buses uicy
can find already on the road. The ~
of buses on the. road
would probably cover the need."