Reduced transit fares for the Canada Line within Richmond and public community shuttles could be paid for with third-party sponsorship dollars, according to one city council candidate.
Laura Nastasa said reduced transit fares could be paid for through sponsorship deals, such as having marketing campaigns inside Canada Line stations.
She is also proposing a test run of “aqua bus” services along the Fraser River to see if it would be an efficient addition to Richmond’s transportation network.
These ideas, and more, are part of Nastasa’s pledge to find local solutions and opportunities to cross-jurisdictional problems — as is the case with regional transportation.
“At the highest level, many of the issues are complex with a long list of stakeholders and challenges - making them difficult to resolve,” said Nastasa in a news release.
“Identifying opportunities to breakdown issues into small components that can be resolved is more likely to result in a successful resolution – even if this means starting with small individual ‘test’ projects in specific locations,” she noted.
For community shuttles, she noted many private businesses like hotels and seniors residences have their own shuttle. She believes it’s worth looking into whether such companies as well as local businesses (such as in Steveston) could partner with Translink in providing designated routes.
She told the Richmond News she hasn’t consulted with anyone, per say.
The aqua bus idea is not necessairly entirely new concept for the city, as a long term vision proposed by the City of Richmond for the middle arm cites a passenger ferry service between the planned waterfront park and Sea Island's BCIT campus.
She also noted it’s important to look for local solutions at Richmond Hospital, bringing stakeholders together to collaboratively identify opportunities to address local priorities that may be different here in Richmond than another municipality.
She said Richmond needs a bigger hospital.
Nastasa said she has worked for Shared Services BC and as a real estate manager.
Her campaign website is lauranastasa.ca. Read the full release below:
