Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 19, 2010 12:00 PM
Greater Vernon may have to go it alone if a popular transit route is to expand. The North Okanagan Regional District will not fund a second bus between Vernon and Kelowna’s University of B.C. campus after a majority of the member jurisdictions didn’t show interest in participating. “Vernon and Coldstream know the excellent value of that service,” said Patrick Nicol, a Vernon director. “Vernon and Coldstream will probably have to step up to the plate at this point.” The current bus to UBC is at capacity at times, and B.C. Transit has been interested in putting a second vehicle on the road. The local contribution could be about $120,000 a year, and that is a concern for Chris Pieper, Armstrong director. “Transit continues to expand and we have to analyze w
hat we’re doing,” he said. “We have to do something with the costs. I am glad the bus to UBC is full but I see some buses half-full.”
The cost of NORD’s overall regional transit service has jumped from $166,000 in 2006 to $474,000 in 2010, and a further increase is anticipated when a new transit facility is completed in 2011. Nicol says he understands the reluctance of the other jurisdictions to increase their expenditures, but he doesn’t believe the UBC bus can be ignored because B.C. Transit wants to move ahead. “Their number one priority in all of B.C. is that route,” he said. Nicol hopes that if Vernon and Coldstream fund a second bus, other communities may eventually come on board.
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Don Quixote Note:
- According to the report there are currently sufficient financial reserves for the expansion for the 2010 fiscal year. (1.e. You could run a second bus from Sept 2010 to aug. 2011).
- 2011 funding would be included in the tax requisition requirements for the next year. (2011)
The Cost breakdown for this extra bus can be found at Agenda Package PDF (675Kb) (Wed. NORD COW meeting). (Table above illustrates Vernon & Coldstream taking on the costs by themselves)
2 comments:
Why not sub-contract the airporter which often goes with very few passengers? It makes sense given the proximity of the airport and most important of all: a professional driver is behind the wheel.
Has anyone asked the simple question, why not raise the fares to the users?
I guess this is not part of the Swivel servants lexicon.
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