Bus service between Fort and T. Bay may get the axe

By Duane Hicks
Fort Frances Times

Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. has announced a proposed schedule change that, if approved, would see its service between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay discontinued.
But while Greyhound was aiming for full discontinuation of service as early as May 4, the Times learned Friday morning that if the route is axed, it won’t be until at least this summer.
Greyhound spokesperson Peter Hamel said Friday morning the company had made application to the Ontario Highway Transport Board for review, but that it’s since been bounced back to Greyhound to be re-tooled.
“The application had gone in and the proposed date was May 4,” he noted. “[But] the OHTB had reviewed that and sent back information that for discontinuation of service, it requires a 90-day window for public notice.
“Right now, we’re reviewing the PVA [Public Vehicles Act], and if we’re having to comply to that, then absolutely that certainly would be pushing that back to the July period.”
Hamel said the OHTB also asked the company to seek third-party vendors to operate the run on behalf of Greyhound.
“And we have done that—we’re actively seeking someone to take that over,” he remarked.
Hamel stressed Greyhound will continue to operate the Thunder Bay run until such time that either the OHTB allows its abandonment or a new carrier is found.
“It’s unlikely the OHTB would allow anyone to abandon it. We’ll probably have to find another carrier here soon,” he noted, adding, “We have had third-party carriers express interest in it.”
Hamel said Greyhound understands the cancellation of service would have an impact on the community, but noted ridership on the Fort Frances-Thunder Bay route is down almost 20 percent.
“We can’t afford to run it at our operating costs,” he stressed. “So, would we oppose a third-party person applying to it? Absolutely not.
“We just want to open up those avenues.”
Paul Bock of North Air Services, which operates the local bus depot, said he’d only recently heard of the proposed schedule change, but he’s been busy making inquiries about it.
Bock said he’d learned the proposed change wouldn’t take place until at least the summer months, but also found the company couldn’t confirm or deny whether any alternatives to discontinuation, such as operating fewer days in the week, would be considered.
“That’s about all I can tell you right now, but there should be some time for people to voice their opinions and look at alternatives,” Bock noted.
In the face of the proposed route cancellation, a group of concerned citizens is circulating a petition “to stop the discontinuation of this vital service,” as the loss of service will affect many individuals, such as students, the elderly, the handicapped, and people seeking medical care in Thunder Bay.
This petition is posted at various locations around Fort France, including the Times’ office.
The Greyhound bus to Thunder Bay currently runs five days a week. It leaves the local bus depot each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. and every Friday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
There’s no bus on Mondays or Saturdays.