RDCK eager to make more improvements to Transit
By Contributor
The RDCK Board wants to expand transit service in the Kootenay Lake West region in 2017, a move that could benefit many riders.
The additional service includes:
- One extra weekday morning run out to the Slocan Valley
- One extra weekday morning to North Shore; would be scheduled to meet the Kootenay Connector which travels to Trail
- An extra run per weekday to Blewett in the peak afternoon period
- An extra day of service between Kaslo and Nelson
- An extra day of service between Nakusp and Nelson
- An extra day of service between Salmo and Nelson with an additional p.m. service for all three days to Salmo
- Introducing introductory service to Perrier Road (outside of Nelson), three times per day.
“Service expansion will further promote transit as an affordable, accessible and reliable transportation option for the public,” said Lawrence Chernoff, Chair of the West Kootenay Transit Committee and RDCK Vice-Chair.
“This move will also help to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.”
Some of these runs will improve connections for those residents travelling to health care facilities. Commuters and students will also benefit.
The Board will also request the addition of a weekday PM peak trip for the Kootenay Connector (Route 99) for implementation in 2018.
The RDCK will submit these expansion requests to BC Transit.
The number of hours received will depend on how many expansion requests Transit receives from communities throughout the province.
The RDCK service would pick up half the cost to implement these extra runs; the remaining half would be paid by BC Transit. If every 2017 run is approved, the RDCK service would pay an estimated $136,700 (19.6% taxation increase).
The Kootenay Connector service would result in a 7.4% taxation increase (or $61,600).
