Region interested in UBC bus service

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: January 06, 2012 1:00 AM 
An extremely popular transit service may stay on track.  There was concern a second bus between Vernon and the University of B.C. in Kelowna could cease after the city’s funding ends in August. But a meeting Wednesday indicates other Regional District of North Okanagan communities may participate. “We all know there won’t be a second bus removed,” said Doug Dirk, a Coldstream director. “There will be a second bus. There’s a demand for it.” Presently, all RDNO members (except for BX-Silver Star and Cherryville) fund one bus to UBC. But when a second bus began in 2010, Vernon picked up the additional $120,000 a year because other communities had concerns about costs and use among their residents. But based on a ridership survey indicating use from the jurisdictions, the RDNO board instructed staff  Wednesday to develop a function that would fund all bus services to UBC. The key issue, though, is how jurisdictions will pay for the service. Dirk believes funding will likely be based on ridership and he is confident an agreement can be reached. “There is a will. The need has been demonstrated,” he said. Vernon director Rob Sawatzky is optimistic that the UBC route will become a truly regional service. “There is a sense of good will,” he said, adding that there are benefits to providing access to the university. “Investing in our youth is the best money you can spend.” The route is also being used by residents who work and shop in Kelowna or have medical appointments there. If the new funding formula is based on ridership, rural Enderby won’t pay anything for a second bus because it has no riders using the service although it contributes $5,200 a year for the first bus. “I see the point of supporting a regional service,” said Jackie Pearase, rural Enderby director. “We may not have riders now but we could in the future.”