Buses and drivers coming to the 2010 Winter Olympics may have never seen snow.
A fleet of 300 former U.S. public transit buses is being assembled at a Lynden, Wash., lot for use in VANOC's transportation network.
Shuttle Bus Leasing near L.A. is sending the buses north and Edison Transportation, whose website is registered by Orlando Fla.-based i-Transit, is recruiting drivers on both sides of the border. i-Transit has a strategic alliance with VANOC motorcoach contractor Gameday Management Group, an Orlando, Fla. company accused of shutting out B.C. companies in favour of U.S. carriers.
"(Gameday is offering) a lower quality of service and higher cost to taxpayers," said Keikhosrow Dadashzadeh, owner of Coquitlam's SeaWest CoachLines.
"We're not asking for any preferential treatment, just not to be excluded," said Brendan McCullough, owner of Vancouver and Victoria's McCullough Coach Lines.
VANOC executive vice-president Terry Wright said the 1,100-bus fleet is coming from around North America. All chartered transit vehicles are American. Wright said VANOC "went through a comprehensive offering to the Canadian industry" for motorcoaches.
"It's very disappointing and I don't anticipate any further action being taken by VANOC to help in any way," said Brian Crow, president of Toronto-based trade organization Motor Coach Canada.
Wright said VANOC found accommodation for drivers while Gameday has dealt with work permits.
"In Torino they brought buses from all over Europe," he said.
"In Salt Lake, all over North America."
Gameday operations vice-president Mike Witte referred questions to project manager Dave Matun, who did not return a phone call.
