Parents Demand Retention of School Bus Service in Queensborough

Parents and students in the Queensborough area of New Westminster are expressing significant concern over the planned termination of a dedicated school bus program for secondary school students, set to end in June 2026. The program, which provides transportation to and from New Westminster Secondary School, has been a critical resource for families, many of whom argue that its discontinuation will force students to rely on public transit, which is often seen as unreliable and more expensive.

The Queensborough bus service has been utilized by approximately 200 students daily since its inception in January 2024. Abriel Doyle, a Grade 8 student at Queensborough Middle School, highlighted the importance of the service, stating, “All the high school students in Queensborough take this bus to get to the school.” Her father, Don Doyle, who chairs the Queensborough Middle School parent advisory committee, echoed her sentiments, insisting that “this bus needs to stay in Queensborough.”

Parents are particularly concerned about the feasibility of public transit options, which they argue are inadequate. “Before this bus, the students would go to the bus stop and watch two, maybe three public buses go by, they’re full,” said Don Doyle. The current bus route covers a distance of six kilometres and takes an average of 20 minutes to reach the school. In contrast, Abriel Doyle anticipates that using public transport could extend her travel time to nearly an hour.

Safety is another major concern for parents, as expressed by parent Julieta Kawas. She remarked, “A lot of parents are able to breathe easier knowing that their children are in a school bus.” Kawas noted a significant reduction in anxiety for both parents and students since the start of the bus program.

The New Westminster Board of Education has emphasized that Queensborough is the only neighborhood receiving this dedicated bus service due to its distance from the high school. The program reportedly cost approximately $380,000 last year for five buses, and a sixth was added this year due to increased demand. Board Chair Maya Russell stated, “This is not something that we have the funding to do on our own,” urging the provincial government to fulfill its financial commitments.

The B.C. NDP had previously promised that the bus program would be “permanent and free” in October 2024, shortly before the provincial election. This commitment aimed to eliminate the monthly fee of $30 that families currently pay. Instead, parents have pointed out that a public transit pass for youth costs around $65, placing a greater financial burden on families. Steve Kooner, the B.C. Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough, criticized the government, stating, “Now if the government denies that promise… they break their word, that’s unethical.”

B.C. Education Minister Lisa Beare is currently working with various stakeholders in the K-to-12 sector to devise a permanent solution for the Queensborough bus program. She has acknowledged the need for a sustainable transportation option for local students.

In response to the impending service cut, parents are actively campaigning to secure the future of the bus program. They are gathering signatures for a petition directed at the NDP government, urging it to extend the bus service beyond June 2026. Kooner has pledged to bring this matter to the legislature in the fall, emphasizing the importance of reliable transportation for Queensborough families.

As the deadline approaches, the community remains hopeful that their voices will be heard and that the school bus service will continue to operate, ensuring that students have safe and efficient access to their education.