Greyhound Canada says it may discontinue its regular bus service along British Columbia's infamous Highway 16 because of a new subsidized service offered by the province.

Earlier this month the province announced it will offer a bus service between Prince George and Prince Rupert along the Highway of Tears in northern B.C.

At least 18 women have been murdered or have disappeared along the highway and adjacent routes since the 1970s.

"If the demand declines, and the government is offering a subsidized alternative, then we will have to look at all our options," said company president Stuart Kendrick.

The company currently offers the overnight trip once a day.

But Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach says the new B.C. Transit service along the highway is supposed to complement Greyhound service, not replace it.

"Greyhound runs an intercity service that transports people between major centres," Bachrach said.

"The transit model that we are working on in our region really is about transporting people from really small communities into the regional service centres like Smithers."

The loss of Greyhound bus service could lead to more questions about how to safely transport people in the region.

With files from George Baker