Community First members of New Westminster City Council on Monday reiterated their call on the Ministry of Education to fund a permanent Queensborough School Bus program.
In addressing a motion brought to Council by Councillor Paul Minhas, all members of Council spoke of the importance of providing safe and predictable transportation from Queensborough to New Westminster Secondary School. A two year dedicated bus pilot project operated by School District 40 has not yet secured funding to continue past the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
“Advocacy for this service has been consistent and relentless since the previous dedicated transit service was cut in 2013, and I am glad the School District was able to secure support for the pilot project” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “In my mind, you run a pilot to determine if a project works and has community support. It is clear after two years that the students and families of Queensborough support this program, and it’s time for the province to step up and make the bus service sustainable.”
The pilot school bus program was launched in January 2024, with approximately 200 students using the service to access New Westminster Secondary School from several pick-up points in Queensborough. The program runs several buses each way, and the approximately $500,000 yearly cost is primarily met by a one-time grant from the Provincial Government. Families have also supported this program with a $30/month fee to use the service.
During the 2024 Provincial Election, then Queensborough MLA Aman Singh announced that the service would be made free and permanent. At Monday night's Council meeting, the motion passed to send letters to all three New Wesmtinster MLAs and the Minister of Education reminding them of this commitment.
“The issue of the Queensborough School bus has been front and centre in our advocacy to the Province, and I am happy to send another letter,” said Mayor Johnstone. “I have a meeting booked in early April with Minister Beare, and along with discussion of future school sites and advocacy for seamless childcare support in the community, the bus issue is on the agenda.