City considers funding for transit link to UBC

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 20, 2008

It could soon be easier for local students to get to university in Kelowna. B.C. Transit has developed a plan for transit from Vernon to the University of B.C.’s Okanagan campus, and Vernon council will decide Monday if it will financially support the initiative. “It’s long overdue,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane. “It should have been in place two years ago.” B.C. Transit’s goal is to have the new transit route operational Aug. 25, but approval is still required from local funding sources. Vernon could pay $7,000 through the local transit service, while it could also contribute $8,175 through regional transit. Coldstream and Lake Country councils have also been asked for to participate in the function, as has the North Okanagan Regional District. Cochrane insists that there is a need for a transit run to UBC as many local students attend classes there. “Not everyone can afford to stay in residence there or drive,” he said. The plan calls for four round trips per weekday to meet the most popular start and finish times for classes. One additional bus would go from downtown Vernon to UBCO, while connections could be made from Armstrong, Coldstream Enderby and Lumby. The main focus of the route would be UBC students, but it could also benefit Vernon residents who work and shop in Kelowna. “Once you hit Lake Country, you have the entire Kelowna transit system open to you,” said Cochrane. That is also the view of B.C. Transit. “The proposed expansion also provides an opportunity to further enhance co-ordination and regional ease-of-use between the Vernon and Kelowna regional transit systems,” states a report from the agency.

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Morning Star EDITORIAL June 20 Transit initiative a good idea

The negative comments about transit are almost legendary. Why is there only ever one person on such a large bus? Why don't they have more regular runs so people can actually go to work or school? And while those are issues that need to be addressed, there is a signficant positive development when it comes to public transit in the North Okanagan. B.C. Transit is proposing to launch a connector route between Vernon and the University of B.C. campus in Kelowna as early as Aug. 25. That would be a significant benefit to the countless North Okanagan students who pursue post-secondary education at UBC. Not only will transit be more affordable than operating a vehicle, it will get cars off the road, which is crucial to the environment. And until Highway 97 is improved between Oyama and Winfield, students using the bus can personally avoid the challenges of that two-lane, windy stretch of road. But the benefits don't just stop at university students. From UBC, anyone from the North Okanagan who works in Kelowna or has to pursue specialized medical treatment or other services could hop the bus. It will also assist those Oyama residents who are needing to get to Vernon to work or shop. The stumbling block, though, may be local jurisdictions financially coming on board. And certainly any new expenditure must be considered closely as it's taxpayers' dollars being used. But there will be significant value for the dollars spent if the transit system is expanded between Vernon and Kelowna.