The Regional District of Central Kootenay board has endorsed a new hybrid model for how transit service costs are divvied out in the region. The goal is to alleviate the challenges of the current complicated, often unfair model.
The West Kootenay Transit System is made up of four transit services operating regionally to create a unified system. Funding for the system is split between the RDCK, BC Transit, City of Nelson, and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, with some additional funding from Interior Health.
RDCK-funded portions of the system are funded through three service areas – Castlegar and Area, North Shore Slocan Valley, and Kootenay West Paratransit. These service areas do not neatly align with how service is provided or invoiced by BC Transit, and each area uses a different apportionment formula for calculating funding. This creates a complicated split that is difficult to administer.
The updated apportionment model, endorsed at the board's April 17 meeting, tries to find a happy medium between the current model and a unified service area model by combining the North Shore Slocan Valley and Kootenay West Paratransit services into one service. Doing so creates some simplicity in the system, and offers transparency into how funding is tied to services provided.
The hybrid model is based on a transit values study completed by Watt Consulting Group. Watt interviewed 16-of-20 directors to establish their values, desired societal outcomes, and community objectives for transit in the region.
Key themes emerged: Transit is viewed largely as a social service, and is important for those who need it. Ridership is the best measure of success. Transit would be more useful if it was more frequent and reliable. Those who benefit from transit ought to bear the cost of providing it, however those who are least able to pay should still have access to the service.
Staff anticipate having a bylaw establishing the new model ready by October.
Wildsight ambassadors
The RDCK will partner with Wildsight for this year’s Community Ambassadors program. The RDCK will contribute a maximum of $14,600 plus GST using Local Government Climate Action Program funds. Wildsight will contribute $14,500.
Delivered in partnership with Wildsight’s Youth Climate Corps (YCC), the Community Ambassadors program trains youth participants in the RDCK’s sustainability and climate resiliency services, such as water conservation, resource recovery, and emergency preparedness. Once trained, the youth ambassadors deliver outreach workshops across the region during July and August.
The programed piloted in 2023 and expanded in 2024, during which it delivered 11 workshops across the RDCK, in partnership with local organizations serving seniors, youth, rural residents, and newcomers.
Burton water main
Creston Electric was retained to replace sections of the water main in Burton, to a maximum cost of $424,703.96 plus GST.
Work includes replacing about 412 metres of six-inch water main line along Burton Cross Road and Burton School Road. Creston Electric will also remove some sections of old asbestos cement pipe, and cap and abandon other sections.
The project is estimated to begin in June, with substantial work completed by late August.
Jump Into Music
The Nakusp Public Library will receive a grant of $4,950 from the Nakusp and Area K Recreation Commission No. 4 for the Jump Into Music program this fall and winter.
The innovative and unique program encourages musical and cultural literacy in children ages 0 to 4. The curriculum shares the culture and impact of music through genre-specific materials from around the world.
Lisa Dery will offer the program in collaboration with the library. Dery has over 20 years of experience as a professional vocalist and actress.
Woodbury fire hydrants
The RDCK will use $84,500 from Area D’s Community Works Fund to install three new six-inch fire hydrants and a 24-kilowatt backup generator within the Woodbury Village water system.
The existing two-inch hydrants are not capable of delivering sufficient flows in case of wildfire or a multi-structure event. They are also not able to effectively fill a water tender. The generator is needed so the water plant keeps running during power outages.
