New Westminster – New Democrat MLA Aman Singh says a new dedicated school bus service for New Westminster Secondary students living in Queensborough will make it easier and safer for kids to get to school beginning in January 2024.

“Queensborough kids work hard at school every day, and that’s why I’ve been working hard to deliver on my promise of a new bus service for secondary school students in Queensborough,” says Aman Singh, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “It’s my honour to tell Queensborough families today that the bus is on its way.”

The province has issued a grant to School District 40 to pilot a contracted bus service for secondary students in Queensborough. Parents worried about their children crossing the busy Queensborough bridge on foot have been advocating for a dedicated bus service for years.

The grant allows the school district to access up to $1.614M over 2.5 years for the pilot project. Those who opt into the dedicated school bus service will pay a $30/month fee to offset the total cost.

“When I was a student at New West Secondary, there were many days that I would be late because there was no direct service, and traffic on Queensborough bridge can be unpredictable. My community even tells me that this service existed before the BC Liberals cancelled it in 2013,” says former New Westminster Secondary student Jalen Bachra. “That’s why I raised this issue with Aman, and I’m grateful that he listened.”

The school district is in the planning stages of operationalizing this pilot project. Parents, caregivers and students of New Westminster Secondary living in Queensborough will be contacted in the coming weeks to begin registration and to communicate additional details.