By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star - June 27, 2008
Riders continue to jump on board with their support to get more students on a direct route to university. With B.C. Transit’s plans to expand regional service to University of B.C. Okanagan, the District of Coldstream is the latest to lend its support. “I say it’s about time,” said Coun. Mary Malerby. The service change would provide a direct link to the university with four roundtrips per weekday. In doing so it would also link the Vernon Regional Transit system with Kelowna’s – allowing residents to travel to or from Kelowna. The expansion would also bring a change to current fares. The service to UBC-O would fall within the existing zone two, the school days only student pass would be eliminated, the student/senior monthly pass would be reduced by $5 (from $40/$45 to $35/40), a four-month semester pass worth $100/$120 would be implemented and the regular day pass would increase by $1 from $4/$3.50 to $5/$4.50.
The expanded service would cost Coldstream (which pays 10 per cent into the cost-sharing program) an additional $8,560. The district’s current annual costs for this contract range from $19,000 to $22,000 depending on ridership revenue. Coldstream is also supporting Vernon’s efforts to construct a new B.C. Transit terminus. The terminus is currently located on 24th Avenue, close to Howard House. The lease on the property expires mid-2010 and B.C. Transit is looking at building a permanent facility rather than continue leasing. One suggested site is the vacant area beside the new water reclamation plant on 25th Avenue. “But I have been advised by Myrna Moore at B.C. Transit that they have a land agent who is looking at various other potential sites for the new facility,” said Catherine Lord, director of financial administration, in a report to council. Vernon is applying to the gas tax/public transit infrastructure program for funding to assist in the construction of the facility.
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Spallumcheen council has decided to serve notice to the North Okanagan Regional District to possibly withdraw from the transit function. Mayor Will Hansma said they decided to possibly pull out of the transit plan because they are not satisfied with the information and discussion available on possible transit routes to Silver Star and Kelowna’s University of B.C. They are not happy that reserve funds they have helped to build up could be used to fund the new extensions without consultation about who really benefits. “We are asking for a review of their plans...we haven’t had very much information,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma. “With the functions the way they are structured we have to serve notice six months before the year’s end, so the end of June is our only option. So if they don’t consult with us prior to the time they want to put the package together to service UBC and Silver Star we will withdraw from transit, so it is a conditional withdrawal.” Armstrong Mayor Jerry Oglow said local governments have been meeting at least 12 times over the last year about transit, including what to expect for the future and funding. Hansma said that these new extensions have only come up in the last meeting, and it was never part of the original plan. Hansma doesn’t know if it will actually benefit the ratepayers of Spallumcheen. “Their announcement caught us a bit by surprise,” said Oglow. “On a personal note, I was disappointed by that when in this day and age local governments are concerned about rising prices in gasoline, carbon tax, rising pollution, and highway congestion. Transit has been foremost on everyone’s minds on how do we improve and enhance it.”
Oglow said Armstrong has always been a strong supporter, and is confused a government would withdraw when there are talks about B.C. Transit extending to UBC campus in Kelowna. Hansma said there is no information available and he doesn’t even know how many students in Spallumcheen would benefit, and how much the new routes would really cost. The approval for the new route is just waiting on a report from B.C. Transit in July, then all stakeholders sit down and discuss it. Oglow, who is NORD chairman, hopes Spallumcheen will continue to participate in the transit function. “I believe the citizens of Spallumcheen will be appreciative there is a regional bus system that can not only take students to school,” said Oglow, “but could connect with transit systems in Kelowna.” Hansma said Spallumcheen doesn’t want to withdraw, but they don’t have enough information at this point to make an informed decision and want the option to withdraw if they have to.
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