BC Transit is reviewing its services in the Kootenays with a number of public meeting scheduled throughout the region.

Directors of the Regional District of Central Kootenay say this could be an ideal time to advocate for an integrated transit system that combines school busses and city busses into one service.

Board Chair Gary Wright has already had meetings with School Districts 8, 10 and 20, as well as Selkirk College to ensure they’re all on the same page with the idea.

“Everybody agreed unanimously that it’s something we should be investing in,” Wright said at a Oct. 8 RDCK meeting, where directors also backed the idea.

Wright was careful to note that it’s up to BC Transit whether they implement the requests, but he stressed that if each director asked for the same thing at their respective open houses, it would be harder for Transit to ignore.

Area D Director Andrew Shadrack thought it might also be good to get the Interior Health Authority in on the request, since they also have busses in rural communities.

“In Kaslo, we have three bus systems running around half empty: the school busses, BC Transit and the IHA bus bringing people to hospitals,” said Shadrack. “These are all ultimately funded out of the same tax payer’s pocket.”

Each bus systems is funded mainly through provincial taxes, which means people in rural areas are paying for transit busses even if they don’t run through their area.

“BC Transit has done a lot of its spending on the coast, and it’s time we had our turn,” said Nelson Mayor John Dooley. “I think this proposal in a good one, that will increase their ridership and benefit our communities.”

Nelson’s public meeting on transit is scheduled for Oct. 22 at from 2 until 8 p.m. at the Nelson Library. Feedback can also be submitted online until by taking a “transit survey” online until Nov. 30 at bctransit.com/kootenays.