Transit Service Expanding

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 27 February 2012 21:07

New Transit terminus site on 31st Ave (P McIntyre photo)

The city of Vernon will start providing increased transit service this spring.  Council will spend an extra 80-thousand dollars to add evening bus runs, and service on Canada Day and Remembrance Day. Councillor Bob Spiers says the funding is for a year, but the city will keep it, if it's used.  "Any time you do an expansion or a change in service, there should be a trial period, and we have to determine after it's going, whether it's beneficial to keep on going." The improvements will start in April, once the new transit terminus site is completed on 31st Avenue by Cenotaph Park. Councillor Brian Quiring is all for the expanded service. "Public transportation is a sustainable concept and it's forward thinking, and this community is a forward-thinking community, and I fully support it. Quiring says there will be a learning curve for people to get used to the new service, but once they learn about it, it will get used. He says the night bus runs will be a benefit to people that don't have cars, seniors and people who work at night. The changes will mean the last buses on week nights will be at 7:30, and at 9 p.m. on weekends, not including Sundays.
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Evening transit service ready to hit the road 

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 27, 2012 4:00 PM

A green light has been given to night bus service in Vernon.  Council voted Monday to spend $80,000 from April to December to have most bus routes running evenings from Monday to Saturday. "I think it will get used a lot," said Coun. Brian Quiring.  The goal is to provide transportation options to individuals going shopping or out to a movie or restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays. It's expected weekday service will be used by shift workers, including those at the hospital. From Monday to Thursday starting in April, the last bus run will begin at 7:30 p.m. while the last run will start at 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The $80,000 also includes transit runs on Canada Day and Remembrance Day. While he supported extending the service for the rest of 2012, Coun. Bob Spiers insists there is no guarantee the new schedule will continue next year. "To me this is a trial run," he said of council's decision Monday and the need to look at long-term financial implications and whether ridership is steady. "We have to determine if it's beneficial to keep it going." For a full year, the city's share of the total $213,777 service cost would be $90,832. The rest would be covered by ridership fees and B.C. Transit.