By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: March 29, 2018
BC Transit is proposing a Garibaldi express bus service that would provide a quicker, highway service and connect Tantalus, Garibaldi Village and Downtown Squamish.
The proposed 4 Garibaldi Express will be commuter oriented and will operate three morning trips and three afternoon trips during peak times. 
The express bus, which replaces the existing Tantalus 4 bus, will begin operations this September. As many as 79 per cent of people who responded to BC Transit service expressed support for this service, council was informed recently.
BC Transit is also introducing a new bus for Quest University. The new Quest University route number 9 would provide hourly weekday service from 7 to 7 pm between Downtown Squamish, Brennan Park Recreation Centre, Garibaldi Village, and Quest University.
The transit agency is also proposing other changes that will streamline some routes to make them efficient.
There are plans to introduce changes to Brackendale 1, which connects Brennan Park, Garibaldi Village to the neighbourhood.
From September onwards, the bus will operate on Highway 99 between to reduce running time.
An additional school overload trip will be added to the Brackendale schedule to address pass-ups and overcrowding at the end of school time.
Changes are also being proposed for the Highlands 2, which currently runs between downtown, the Brennan Park Recreation Centre, and Garibaldi Village, and then extends up to the Highlands neighbourhoods, and occasionally provides service to Quest University.
From September onwards, Route 2 Highlands will turn east off Government at Mamquam rather than Garibaldi. This change, BC Transit says, will streamline the existing routing, saving some running time and improving the on-time performance of the route.
BC Transit is also proposing some bus stop changes. New stops are being proposed at Mamquam Road, Perth Drive, while some stops would be closed at Tantalus, Newport Ridge, and Cheakamus Way.
At the request of Council, BC Transit asked the community to identify their preference for service to the South Squamish Parks against Alice Lake Park. Based on the engagement results, service to South Squamish Parks received a higher level of support.
The 5 South Parks transit service will connect Downtown Squamish to the Shannon Falls Provincial Park, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.
A service connecting Vancouver and Whistler was a top priority for those who responded to a survey done by BC Transit last fall.
While BC Transit has been talking about providing a commuter service between Squamish and Vancouver, private operators such as Squamish Connector has filled in the niche.
Recently, car sharing companies have also come forward with plans to partner with the District of Squamish.
David St. Luke says
Nice but why is there no transit service past spruce street in Valleycliff? And no transit to the casino?