City to add four new buses in 2015-2016

NEWS — Four more buses will be added to the City’s transit fleet next year and in 2016 at a cost of $552,000.

One custom transit bus for the handyDART will go into service in 2015 at a cost of $22,000, plus $65,000 in 2016.

Three conventional buses will be added in 2015 at a cost of $110,000 next year and $355,000 in 2016.

Council didn’t budget it for the additions this year because B.C. Transit needs lead time to order the new buses.

“We do need more hours,” said Coun. Nelly Dever, but said council needs to sit down with TRU and other community stakeholders to discuss transit needs so the bus service can become sustainable.

“It’s only going to get worse.”

Coun. Ken Christian cautiously supported the expansion, saying that while buses generally reduce emissions by cutting the number of cars on the road, when there’s “one person on a big bus uphill” it’s not always the case.

“I don’t think our transit system is broken,” said Coun. Pat Wallace, who wasn’t enthusiastic about a workshop.

Due to the need to provide B.C. Transit with a timely answer, council decided to put it on the agenda for a council workshop later in the spring and look at a full review of the transit strategy later.