By David F. Rooney
If you use the local transit system and think it’s not only slow but inadequate, then you’ll be pleased to know that proposed changes will expand and speed up the service.
There are four proposed routes: Columbia Park to downtown via First Street; Big Eddy downtown along Third Street; downtown to Queen Victoria Hospital through South Revelstoke; and downtown to QVH via Arrow Heights. You can see images of the routes and a panel explaining expansion costs that were displayed during an open house on Monday evening.
“I want to see people on the buses — seniors, young people, working stiffs,” said Councillor Phil Welock, who habitually walks downtown.
He said the proposed expansion will dramatically improve transit service, thereby making it a more attractive option than driving downtown.
“I really think it can compete with private vehicles,” he said, adding that he himself will use the service.
One woman at the open house, a Mount Begbie Manor resident, said she is a regular transit rider and quite liked the proposed changes.
“It looks faster and I’m sure it will get me where I want to go,” she said.
The expanded service will require the purchase of another bus and the expenditure of between $233,000 and $333,000 (the cost will be shared between the City and the province) depending which of three expansion options — minor, medium and major — is ultimately selected. The minor expansion tacks on 500 hours of new service. The medium expansion adds 1,800 hours the major option adds 3,100 hours. The City’s portion of the expansion will be 51.31 per cent while the province will pick up 48.69 per cent of the cost. (You can see the option-by-option break down in the last image below).
Here are some images of the old route and proposed new routes:
