With Greyhound bus service between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay scheduled to be discontinued Aug. 20, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton and local municipal representatives are trying to find a solution to retain the bus route—as well as reinstate bus service to Winnipeg via Minnesota.
“The best solution would be to find someone locally who knows buses and is interested in taking on the route,” Hampton noted.
Several local individuals and companies have indicated they are interested in looking into the operation, and will be provided with additional information during a conference call tomorrow (June 12) at noon.
Interested proponents for the route to Thunder Bay have until July 6 to make their application to the Ontario Highway Transport Board.
Caribou Coach already has applied. If no one opposes the application by July 6, it automatically will be given the licence to operate the Fort Frances-Thunder Bay route on July 7.
But that company will not offer bus service west of Fort Frances.
“And some of the greatest need is in the west end of the district,” Hampton stressed.
He feels this is an opportunity to put forward a plan to restore bus service in Rainy River District to both Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.
“And with the price of gas continuing to increase, I think the need for bus service is going to grow,” Hampton remarked, noting it takes about $110 to travel to Winnipeg and back.
“It will be better to take the bus.”
But Hampton also indicated he feels local operators likely won’t be able to take on the bus service without public support.
“It’s certainly a big risk,” he conceded, noting there’s the cost of the application, a bus, insurance, maintenance, and drivers to consider.
Some of those showing interest are unsure ridership would support a bus. Figures indicate an average of eight passengers a day would provide a break-even situation.
Emo Coun. Ken Fisher, a school bus operator, said he feels the most practical vehicle to take over the route would be a 20-passenger bus.
“If you are carrying older passengers to and from the hospital, they can’t be riding in a van or school bus,” he stressed, indicating they would need a washroom on board.
He added a brand new 20-passenger bus would cost about $200,000, and would include room for luggage, air conditioning, a washroom, and high-back seats.
It would run on diesel fuel and have an engine that’s easily replaceable.
Insurance for a bus that size would need an $8-million liability while a vehicle holding seven-12 passengers would need a $5-million liability.
In addition, the price just to apply for the route would cost nearly $1,500.
But local municipal leaders gathered at Friday’s meeting here with Hampton seemed willing to support a local operator—perhaps with financial assistance for the application fee and maybe a loan guarantee to acquire a bus.
They also could help with business planning, offer letters of support, and look into funding through FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.
They would not be providing operating funding, but some assistance to help get the bus service started.
“We have to move quickly,” Hampton remarked, again stressing the July 6 deadline for applications. “If there are no others, [the company from Thunder Bay] will get the route and then we’ll be blocked.
“We need to get behind a local service provider so we get the best outcome for people of the Rainy River District,” he added. “If not, we could end up with no service or inadequate service.”
If more than one local individual or company is particularly interested in taking over the route, Hampton and the municipal reps would rank the best one and get behind it.
Or those interested could get together to take on the operation.
“It’s important for people to remember it’s use it or lose it,” Hampton warned. “The bus is a valuable service [but] you can’t expect people to run it at a loss.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
