A Colwood entrepreneur is launching a private bus service to pick up where the impending cancellation of the military Blue Boat has left off.

The B次元官网网址淏lue BusB次元官网网址� shuttle service will transport people between the Colwood location of the Military Family Resource Centre on Rosebank Road, and the CFB Esquimalt front gates starting May 1.

Buses are scheduled to leave near the military resource centre Monday to Friday for three morning runs before 7 a.m. Return trips will leave from near CFB Esquimalt at 4:15 and 4:45 p.m.

Blue Bus developer Cynthia Cummings has a husband and son in the navy who use the Blue Boat daily.

With the upcoming cancellation of the service at the end of April, she said it only seemed logical that somebody provide an alternative.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 doing this because we are a military family,B次元官网网址� said Cummings, who lives in Belmont Park. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 doing it for the military, just to ensure that our military community can continually, comfortably go to work.B次元官网网址�

Cummings said she thinks of herself as a logistical coordinator putting together a needed service. She isnB次元官网网址檛 expecting to make a profit and is trying to keep the fare price as low as possible.

Ultimately, demand will drive service levels, and if it turns out that there is no demand, Cummings said her investment is minimal enough that she can shut the business down without much of a loss.

B次元官网网址淚f I last a month, or six months, I can stop at any time,B次元官网网址� said Cummings. B次元官网网址淚 just figured letB次元官网网址檚 just do it. LetB次元官网网址檚 see what happens.B次元官网网址�

She is selling the Blue Bus service as convenient, reliable, specific to the needs of the military personnel and a solution to get more cars off the B次元官网网址淐olwood crawl.B次元官网网址�

The project has fallen together quickly for Cummings, who is working with WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Transportation in Victoria to organize buses and drivers. She has already heard plenty of interest from military families and expects the service to be well used.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a great idea,B次元官网网址� said her husband, Warrant Officer Wayne Cummings.

B次元官网网址淚 think the military is very keen on something like this or anything, because they donB次元官网网址檛 have a viable option, they donB次元官网网址檛 have a solution. This alleviates that issue.B次元官网网址�

Cynthia Cummings said the Blue Bus service B次元官网网址� blue in name only, unlike the outgoing Blue Boats B次元官网网址� will have the capacity to transport about 320 people in the morning. Between 300 and 500 people use the Blue Boat daily.

With two buses per run, and three runs each weekday morning, and two back in the afternoon, Cummings said her company can fill the gap.

Parking for the service will be available for military personnel just inside the gates of the Department of National Defense property at the end of Rosebank Road.

CFB Esquimalt spokesperson Lt. Michael McWhinnie confirmed military members can use that parking for the Blue Bus. The area is being offered to for personnel who are carpooling and the bus service initiative fits that mandate.

B次元官网网址淲hile CFB Esquimalt is discussing a number of transportation options with other parties, we are pleased to see a private initiative taken that may help to relieve the traffic congestion in the local area,B次元官网网址� McWhinnie said.

Alternative parking will be available in the lower parking bowl of the West Shore Parks and Recreation property, near Bear Mountain arena.

The Blue Bus will swing up through that parking lot to pick up commuters. After that the buses will go directly to CFB Esquimalt, with no other stops.

B次元官网网址淚 think word will travel very quickly, which is great. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what we need,B次元官网网址� Cummings said. B次元官网网址淚 think (the Blue Bus) just gives you a good option.B次元官网网址�

A business licence from the City of Colwood is in the works and all transportation licensing comes through WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Transportation.

The Department of National Defense is not involved but has been informed of the intent of the business. The service will be available to all military personnel, families, civilian workers or any members of the public.

Riders will be able to purchase either a monthly pass at $60, a biweekly pass at $35 or a weekly pass at $20, plus HST.

For more information visit .

news@goldstreamgazette.com