Transit approved for university run

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 10, 2008

It will soon be easier for North Okanagan residents to get to Kelowna. The North Okanagan Regional District board approved several motions Wednesday that would extend the regional transit system to the University of B.C.’s Okanagan campus, possibly as early as Aug. 23. “The main market for initiating this service is UBC O students,” said Myrna Moore, a planner with B.C. Transit. There will be four round trips a day, matching up with the main class-time starts at UBC O. However, transit connections into Kelowna will also be available, likely making the service popular with North Okanagan residents heading south for work, shopping or medical appointments. “There’s been demand from Kelowna residents wanting to commute to Vernon for work,” said Moore. The main terminus for routes south will be Vernon and the plan is to change pickup times in Enderby and Lumby so residents in those communities can access UBC O.

The fare from Vernon, Enderby, Armstrong or Lumby to UBC O would be $2.50 one way. The total cost of the new transit service is $211,300 a year, with $72,000 of that coming from NORD. The figures could also change if the District of Lake Country decides to provide $15,000 to $20,000 for the function. NORD’s participating jurisdictions will now meet to determine the apportionment of costs for the expanded service. One potential hurdle, though, is Spallumcheen’s suggestion that it could leave regional transit altogether. Lorna Bissell, Spallumcheen director, said there is no guarantee Spallumcheen will abandon the service, but withdrawal notice was the only way to trigger a review. “Our only intention was to find out how this (UBC) would affect our budget and can we afford it,” she said. Jerry Oglow, NORD chairman, hopes Spallumcheen’s concerns can be resolved, but he says the regional transit system provides a valuable service to the entire North Okanagan. “The regional transit system has really grown. The system has been embraced by the population,” he said, adding that there is a benefit to the environment as well. “We’ve taken thousands of vehicle-trips off the highways.”