Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 22, 2010 12:00 PM
A possible expansion of a popular transit route is being examined further. The North Okanagan Regional District is being asked by B.C. Transit to add a second bus to the University of B.C. route. Financial information will be sent to the participating jurisdictions and board members will have a meeting to discuss the concept. “Right now, a lot of the information we have received from B.C. Transit is cursory,” said director Doug Dirk. NORD was recently informed by B.C. Transit that there is interest in adding another bus that connects the North Okanagan with Kelowna. “This wasn’t included in our financial plan,” said David Sewell, the regional district’s finance general manager. “The challenge is to fund it this year and to commit to funding for the following year.” Sewell believes the cost for operating a second bus could be $156,000 annually.“We don’t have that amount in reserves,” he said.
During a recent presentation to the City of Vernon, B.C. Transit officials suggested the cost would be $112,000, the same as for the current vehicle on the road. The cost is split between the North Okanagan and Central Okanagan regional districts, with the city paying 10 per cent of the bill. Director Wayne Lippert isn’t sure why B.C. Transit’s request for funding for a second bus comes as a surprise. “The expectation always was we’d have to put on another bus,” he said, adding that the original goal for a new vehicle was 2009 and reserves would be considered. However, Sewell says that there isn’t a commitment from all of the function partners to fund such an initiative. “That strategic review hasn’t occurred yet,” he said. NORD is responsible for administering the bus to UBC but B.C. Transit has asked the City of Vernon to take on the function as a way of expediting decision-making.
3 comments:
Isn't NORD's request to Vernon, passing the buck.
Nothing like a committee sitting down to design a horse and always ending up with a Camel.
If this is so important,then let the "user" pay 100% of the cost. Why should we subsidize their transportation?
Because if we didn't subsidize busses, no one could afford to ride!
It would be nice if you anonymous posters would do a little research before posting ignorant commentary.
Robert, it's more like BC Transit passing the buck - why approach the City of Vernon directly when they should be talking to NORD, who are supposed to administer the bus contract on a regional basis for all of us, including the City of Vernon? Don't you find it odd that NORD says the cost may be $156K, yet BC Transit claims only $112K?
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