Local operator sought for bus service

With Greyhound bus service from Fort Frances to Thunder Bay scheduled to be discontinued on Aug. 20, Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton suggested a solution to local municipal representatives at a meeting here Friday afternoon.
“The best solution would be to find someone locally who knows buses and is interested in taking on the route,” Hampton remarked.
Interested proponents for the route to Thunder Bay have until July 7 to make their application to the Ontario Highway Transport Board.
Hampton noted one company already has applied, but it only will offer bus service between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay.
“Nothing west of Fort Frances,” he stressed. “And some of the greatest need is in the west end of the district.”
He said he feels this is an opportunity to put forward a plan to restore the 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 added, noting it takes about $110 to travel to Winnipeg and back.
“It will be better to take the bus.”
But Hampton also feels local operators won’t step forward to take on the bus service without public support.
Municipal leaders on hand for Friday’s meeting seemed willing to support a local operator, particularly by assisting with business planning and, if possible, locating any available funding.
Some things interested operators would have to take into consideration would be the cost of a bus, insurance, maintenance, and drivers.
Hampton said he personally spoke to two school bus operators in the area who indicated looking at taking over the bus service was something they’d consider.
“I know there’s a long way between saying they’ll look at it and saying they’re prepared to put in their proposal, but even if we found one person who was really interested,” he noted.
Several of the municipal reps said they’d speak to other bus operators or drivers in their communities, and would report back via teleconference late tomorrow (June 9).
“We have to move quickly,” Hampton warned, again stressing the July 7 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 continued. “If not, we could end up with no service or inadequate service.”
Anyone interested in looking at taking on the bus route is asked to contact their local municipal office as soon as possible.
Another meeting between Hampton and municipal reps is scheduled to take place later in the week.