Long-planned bus route may finally connect Agassiz, Mission, and other north Fraser communities

Residents on the north side of the Fraser River might soon have a new way to travel to Mission or Agassiz.

A new bus route along Highway 7 between Agassiz and Mission could be operating as soon as 2026, if all goes to plan. The long-discussed route would serve several communities north of the Fraser River, including several First Nations, and connect them to Mission and places far beyond.

A north Fraser bus route has been discussed for more than a decade. The route was discussed in regional transit plans in 2012, and the first research into creating it began in 2018. But the line was delayed for years by a lack of funding following the pandemic. Other challenges with regional transit in the Fraser Valley, like the limited space at the Chilliwack bus maintenance facility, had to be addressed before moving ahead with the north Fraser plans, according to Fraser Valley Regional District staff.

(While a property has been bought to address Chilliwack’s bus maintenance facility’s limited capacity, it will be a few years before construction on the new bus yard is complete.)

Planners and politicians hope the route can better link the north Fraser’s small communities and their residents to larger centres, providing easier access to everything from shopping to medical appointments. A Highway 7 bus link would be particularly useful for residents who can’t afford vehicles as prices continue to rise, District of Kent Mayor Sylvia Pranger said.

“There are many people who just can't afford a vehicle anymore, like students and seniors,” she said.

There are already buses running between Harrison Hot Springs and Agassiz, and from Agassiz to both Hope and Chilliwack. Pranger said that the “logical next step” is helping residents in Agassiz and in the several small communities to its west get into Mission, where they can both shop and access services, or connect with other transit services.

The route would service a string of communities and First Nations, none of which are currently served by transit. They include Dewdney, Deroche, Lake Errock, Harrison Mills, Sq'éwlets First Nation, Leq'a:mel First Nation, and Sts'ailes First Nation.

Cory Cassel, the FVRD director representing several of these communities in Electoral Area G, said the bus route would be an important step for the region.

“Having public transportation options in our area would be a huge benefit to [residents] and their families, and I'm very excited to be working with the FVRD and our partners at BC transit to see that become a reality in the near future,” he told The Current.

Pranger said the communities along the potential route have been supportive of the connection.

One of the most enticing possibilities for North Fraser locals would be a connection to the West Coast Express terminus station in Mission, Pranger said. While the exact route for the new service hasn’t been determined, any link would likely connect with the terminus of the passenger rail service, allowing residents living north of the Fraser River to access Vancouver and the surrounding area by train.

The north Fraser route would serve communities smaller than Langley or Abbotsford and the number of riders who would use the buses is still uncertain. The number and type of buses bought for the route—and the number of trips a day—have yet to be determined as well.

Depending on the number of daily bus trips, the project could cost as little as $200,000 or as much as half-a-million dollars each year. The communities on the route would be collectively responsible for paying between $120,000 and $250,000, with BC Transit picking up the rest of the bill. The cost of the project would depend on both the frequency of service and the types of buses used. So far, planners have suggested the route could feature between two and six round trips each day. The cost of six daily trips would be about twice as much as that of one with just two trips each day.

(The communities themselves would split the local cost, using a still-to-be-agreed-upon formula.)

At an October meeting, the FVRD’s board gave staff the green light to start the second phase of work planning a future route. The second phase of a feasibility study will nail down the specifics of the project—like where the buses will go and where they will stop—and will include consultation with First Nations communities and municipalities.

While the study is scheduled to take place over the next year and buses could be on the highway as soon as 2026, FVRD staff say acquiring the buses themselves (which can take up to two years) could delay the expected timeline.