A potential bus route between Mission and Agassiz is up for public feedback.
BC Transit launched a survey on Friday (April 25) and scheduled three open houses to gather input on the possible Highway 7 route.
The survey is available online at engage.bctransit.com/nof2025 and will be open until May 16.
The proposed "North of Fraser" transit route would run along Lougheed Highway (Highway 7) from the Pioneer and Park exchange in downtown Agassiz to downtown Mission, according to a study presented to Fraser Valley Regional District staff last year.
The trip spans 50 kilometres and lasts 60 minutes while accounting for travel and recovery time.
No public transit services currently exist between Mission and Agassiz, with approximately 3,800 people living along the proposed route according to the study.
The project was included in the Fraser Valley Regional District's transit improvement initiatives for 2024-2027, approved by the board in September of last year. The board directed staff to implement Phase 2 of the feasibility study in November.
A news release from BC Transit on Friday (April 25) said feedback is "essential" for making the service work for as many people as possible.
"BC Transit will be using the feedback collected to help determine where bus stops could be located and to learn how to best serve the community needs with the resources available with service days and trip times," the release reads.
Open houses will allow for in-person engagement at Deroche Community Hall on May 5, Harrison Mills Community Hall on May 6, and Kent Community Recreation and Cultural Centre on May 7. Each session will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
According to a report attached to the FVRD Regional and Corportate Services Committee agenda for March 13, an initial engagement session was held at Leq’á:mel First Nation in January that attracted roughly 50 attendees.
"Feedback was generally positive, with the focus of the discussions around route frequency, days of service, destinations and public safety concerns," the report reads.
Paper copies of the survey will be available at the Kent Recreation and Cultural Centre, Kent municipal office, Mission Leisure Centre, Village of Harrison Hot Springs office, Welton Common, and Leq’á:mel First Nation.
