BC Southern Interior Regional Ground Transportation Study Released

BC Southern Interior Regional Ground Transportation Study Released

August 28, 2023

KELOWNA, BC: The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce the release of the BC Southern Interior Regional Ground Transportation Study final report.

Funding to carry out this study was announced in May 2023 by the Province of BC. Funding was provided to ETSI-BC along with its counterparts, Northern Development and Island Coastal Economic Trust.

The objectives of the Southern Interior Regional Ground Transportation Study were to identify existing ground passenger transportation services in the region, with a focus on the connections between Southern Interior BC communities and in rural areas not served by existing public transportation. The study also sought input on what is working, priorities for change, and potential stakeholder roles in future transportation options.

The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) will use the outcomes of the study to help inform next steps for developing options on transportation solutions in rural communities, and ETSI-BC hopes the report will help inform the communities in the Southern Interior.

ETSI-BC engaged WATT Consulting Group to carry out the study with support from Toop Consulting, overseen by a Working Group from around the region. WATT Consulting carried out engagement sessions and a survey of stakeholder organizations to identify regional ground transportation challenges and opportunities across the Southern Interior. Stakeholders included First Nation communities, Regional District representatives, local governments, academia, tourism and economic development practitioners, transportation providers, and institutions including Passenger Transportation Board, Interior Health, and BC Transit.

ETSI-BC and the consulting team on this study sincerely appreciate the contributions from our 17 Working Group members, 24 Roundtable Meeting participants and 186 Survey Respondents.

Some of the region’s ground passenger transportation challenges identified in the study include: limited regional transit connectivity, gaps in access to medical services, lack of transportation options to support both tourism and economic development, the need for transportation to access housing opportunities, and other region-specific challenges related to climate, geography and existing infrastructure.

Two key opportunities are outlined in the study. First, a public transportation service framework with three layers of services: inter-regional connections, regional connections, and local connections. Each layer of transportation service already exists in the Southern Interior, and each layer has gaps to be filled. The other opportunity is the ecosystem of existing public transportation funding. All known funding programs are detailed in the study on pages 42 and 43.

Study recommendations are summarized in four categories: technology & coordination, funding, policy & regulatory frameworks, and technical studies. Each recommendation outlined in this study requires collaboration and partnerships, demonstrating the importance that we all work together to enhance ground transportation services across our region. The potential partners are identified for each action in the study recommendations. ETSI-BC will be launching a funding program early this fall to address a portion of the funding recommendations.

Click here to read the BC Southern Interior Regional Ground Transportation Study final report.

Laurel Douglas, CEO, ETSI-BC said, “We would like to thank the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) for the funding to undertake this study. As a regional economic trust, we know that inter-city ground transportation is important to the economic and social needs of our residents. We’re pleased to have been able to contribute to the region’s understanding of this topic, and we will work to encourage the relevant parties to act upon the recommendations in this important study.”

-30-

About ETSI-BC

ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, was created in 2006 with a $50 million endowment to assist in the growth and diversification of the economy of the Southern Interior of BC. The Trust is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, receiving input from Regional Advisory Committees made up of elected officials from both the Thompson-Okanagan and Columbia-Kootenay regions. We add value to the economic development ecosystem and provide funding for projects in four key funding streams:

1) Building economic development capacity,
2) Supporting business resilience and growth,
3) Developing human capital, and
4) Innovating and advancing key sectors.

For more information about ETSI-BC, visit the Our Story page on our website at www.etsi-bc.ca.

For More Information about this media release, please contact:

Laurel Douglas, CEO | 236.420.3680 | laurel@etsi-bc.ca

We’d love to hear from you!

201 – 460 Doyle Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C2
Phone: 236-420-3680 ext. 0
info@etsi-bc.ca

More News & Stories

A Game Changing Approach to Tourism Marketing in the Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley, known for its stunning landscapes and welcoming communities, thrives on tourism, with key attractions like Radium Hot Springs, Panorama, and Invermere. The Columbia Valley Tourism Marketing Society (CVTMS) was established to unify tourism marketing and manage the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), a crucial funding source for local programs and events. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), a cohesive marketing strategy was developed, leading to the launch of the Travel Columbia Valley website and enhanced collaboration among businesses. This unified approach has sparked economic growth and new ventures like Radium Brewing, bolstering year-round tourism and regional development.

Beyond the River – Greater Trail’s Builds a New Tourism Sector

An innovative tourism development project with a buy-local component is providing economic benefits in the Greater Trail area of the South Kootenay region. Diverse stakeholders came together to create the “Beyond the River” campaign which promotes the area’s world-class sport fishing opportunities to attract more visitors throughout the year. Supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the highly collaborative project is increasing tourism capacity, and provides a foundation to support future projects that will help grow the local economy.

Spring 2024 Funding Intake Closes with 43 Applications Received

April 18, 2024 – The ETSI-BC team is pleased to share that we received 43 applications for the Funding Intake that closed on April 12, 2024. The $1.2 million in funding requests is almost double the funding available, so the Regional Advisory Committees and Board of ETSI-BC will have their work cut out for them.

Data Diggers – a Community of Practice

March 21, 2024 – We invite you to join the Data Diggers Community of Practice! This is a group of practitioners who dig data, dig digging into data, and want to dig themselves out of data into knowledge and insights.

Thompson-Okanagan Team Takes to the World Stage to Address Workforce Shortages

The Thompson-Okanagan region is a well-known Canadian tourist destination, it is not immune to the shortage of skilled workers experienced in many Canadian communities. International recruitment is considered a key tool for addressing worker shortages in the area. With the support of the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), three major economic development organizations collaborated to market the region at the world’s largest emigration event in Houten, Netherlands in 2023. The initiative has led to an ongoing strategy to attract new talent and help the region grow and thrive.

North Shore Business Improvement Association Validates Return on Investment

Kamloops’ North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA) has grown significantly since its inception, but after almost three decades, it was time to validate its strategic direction and value proposition to members and stakeholders. With the support of the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the NSBIA conducted a Membership Engagement and Return on Investment Project in 2022 which confirmed its good work and where the organization goes next.

Celebrating a Successful Research Funding Partnership

It’s been three years since the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) and Mitacs launched their research funding partnership serving the Southern Interior of BC, and they are excited to share some key outcomes and reflect on future opportunities.

Revitalizing Downtown Hope – Planning for a Resilient Future

Visitors to Hope are discovering that the community is much more than a convenient gas and pit stop off the highway when travelling to and from the Lower Mainland. As a new downtown revitalization strategy rolls out, a more vibrant and engaging downtown area is emerging, drawing both residents and tourist traffic into the area, and creating new economic opportunities. The project was supported with funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

Boston Bar & North Bend Make Plans to Revitalize Economy

The pioneering spirit associated with the early history of Boston Bar and North Bend is evident again. The area was once one of the richest gold mining areas in Canada, later supported by forestry. But after a major mill closed in the 1980s, many people moved away and the economy began to decline. With the support of the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the community conducted an analysis of its needs, strengths, and opportunities, renewing the promise of a strong and sustainable future.

Fostering Entrepreneurship at Post-Secondary Institutions in 2024

January 24, 2024 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has supported the 6 public post-secondary institutions (PSIs) in the Southern Interior of BC since 2008 with funding of over $7.3 million.