June 14, 2023
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Northern Development is encouraging community organizations and the public to provide their input on transportation challenges and opportunities in the final weeks of a survey open until June 25, 2023 at northerndevelopment.bc.ca. The survey supports the Northern Inter-Community Transportation Study now underway. Survey respondents will be entered into a prize draw, with one $500 Visa gift card available to the winning online survey respondent.
The study is focusing on how to improve inter-community transportation connections between Northern B.C. communities, as well as in rural areas not served by existing public transportation. The project is looking for feedback on existing transportation options already available in Northern B.C., plus gathering input on what additional transportation priorities should be considered.
“Northern Development already provides funding to 19 different transportation services in our region, and we are eager to hear how to improve connections,” said Joel McKay, Northern Development’s chief executive officer. “We would like to learn directly from citizens and community organizations about what is working and how we can even better connect Northern B.C.”
The study seeks to understand potential roles that area First Nations, local governments and community organizations could play in future transportation improvements, with the goal of continuing to create a more prosperous and connected Northern B.C.
In addition to the online survey open until June 25, 2023, Northern Development staff have been holding open houses in several communities and undertaking a virtual roundtables with representatives from Indigenous and local governments plus existing transportation service providers.
Funding to conduct the study came from the Province of BC. Information gathered through the survey, virtual roundtables and open houses will help develop a report, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure later this year.
To take the survey and enter the draw, head to northerndevelopment.bc.ca. Community organizations can also reach out directly to the project team at transportation@northerndevelopment.bc.ca.
