City rethinks bus changes

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Nov 6, 2017 / 5:00 am

The City of Vernon will likely not be moving forward with all of its planned changes to bus routes next year, following public consultations. A city spokesperson said members of the public “were concerned about the proposed changes to routes 7 and 8.” Those routes cover Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista. Staff are expected to recommend to city council this month that the changes be delayed until at least 2019 due to the public's concerns, according to Ellen Morrison, a transportation engineer-in-training with the city. “As a result, BC Transit and the City of Vernon are recommending not to pursue changes to routes 7 and 8 in this round of service changes,” Morrison said in an email. “While BC Transit and the City of Vernon do acknowledge that there are opportunities to improve both of these routes, the public's concerns could be more thoroughly addressed as part of future transit expansions planned in the next two fiscal years.” However, Morrison said there was strong support for a new north-south route between the Village Green Mall and the downtown. Morrison said recommendations would be presented ito council at its Nov. 27th meeting. Meanwhile, a BC Transit official said the company was still working with the City of Vernon to improve transit service in the area with significant expansion hours starting March, 2018. "A service change plan summarizing all the final details will be made available to the public by the end of November," said the official.