Single N. Shore bus service sought Martin Millerchip News Reporter martin@nsnews.cont NORTH Vancouver District council and staff are eager to get discussions on the road about a single bus ser- vice for the North Shore. Or at least take the first smal! steps along that road. Council voted unanimous- ly Monday (with Mayor Don Bell absent) to support a care- fully worded staff recommen- dation that should establish whether West Vancouver is willing to talk about the possi- biliry of extending its Bluc Bus style of service into North Vancouver, The motion stated that council: @ approve in principle the development of a terms of ref- erence to study and make ree- ommendations regarding an autonomous transit operating unit for the North Shore; ® request the participation of the other North Shore GVTA (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority) municipalities to endorse this imitative, and B municipal scarf, in conjune: tion with the GVTA, report hack on a preposal outline and related costs to their respective municipalities, Coun. Ernie Crist: wel- comed the initiative as “a great idea, a great report. “We would have our own AUTONOMOUS system dove- tailed with the rest of the region. “This is the first important step forward,” said Crist. During negotiations with the province about the Greater Vancouver Regional District taking over responsi- bility for transit services and roads within Greater Vancouver, N.D. Lea Consultants undertook an organizational study of bus operations in the region. N.D. Lea’s report recom- mended that: “the bus service be delivered through multiple subsidiaries focused on dis- tinct market segments and geographic and community boundaries. “This transition to-mult- ple subsidiaries should take place over the long term. “In the short term, the study team recommends two distinct subsidiaries for GVTA buses — a suburban and an urban subsidiary.” The stady also conchided: “Service on the North Shore is particularly fragment- edo at this ame between the West Vancouver Blue Bus and B.C. Transit. “Iris the Study Team's recommendation that GVTA should examine this area early in its mandate as integration of these DWo operating entities would lead to improved ser- vice co-ordination particularly in the east-west direction, “The combined entities could well form a new sub- sidiary.” A peer review of the study was completed in November 1998, It generally endorsed the whole report and, with regard to the North Shore, stated: “The Peer Review Panel concludes thar the North Shore is a special case that may warrant a different approach on April 1, 1999. “This is based on two main factors. “First, the North Shore in its entirety (including West Vancouver) is, to a significant degree, seen as a distinct, coherent market. “Second, it is noted that We know you're one of a kind. wl s insurance brokers, we work with insurance companies that we can rely on to respond quickly and fairly when you have a claim. 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Phone: 986-1155/ 925-3533 Irwin & Billi 1900 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, B.C. Phone: 988-1148 Peake & Richmond Led., Lynn Valley Centre North Vancouver, B.C. Phone: 980-9394 there are two transit entities in what is, in effect, one market. “The Peer Review Panel concluded thar there would be merit in rationalizing these arrangements over time, and it may be appropriate tw give the North Shore Transit Centre some form of special status in the interim. “Alternatively, the North Vancouver Transit Centre could be included within the Non-Core (Suburban) Subsidiary.” The GVTA board also voted on Nov. 30, 1998, vo “instruct the CEO to require that the bus subsidiary devel- Op more autanomous and dis- tinct operating units reflecting, transit market areas ...” According to district trans- portation planner Donna Howes, “analysis of the N.D. 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