West Kelowna council heard an update on growth and expansion plans for Kelowna Regional Transit (KRT) at its Jan. 24 regular meeting.

James Wadsworth, manager of project development with BC Transit, told council they are planning for population growth. He used the Victoria system, which has 350 buses, as an example of where Kelowna transit could be within the next several years.

乌鸦传媒淲e did a forecast and we think we need a plan that supports 230 buses,乌鸦传媒� said Wadsworth.

KRT currently has a stable of 110 busses at its Hardy Road facility, which was designed for 70 vehicles. In April 2022, the City of Kelowna was successful in having 40 acres of property removed from the agricultural land reserve to make way for a new transit facility south of UBC Okanagan.

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Wadsworth noted that the design process for the project will cost approximately $4 million. That was a concern for Coun. Rob Friesen.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 massive, that乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of money,乌鸦传媒� he said.

Wadsworth added the price tag was reasonable considering the planning involved.

乌鸦传媒漎ou乌鸦传媒檙e talking engineering services, site investigations, road, and building design, and there乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of engagement time with the public and local governments,乌鸦传媒� he explained.

Wadsworth also noted the project is eligible for a federal grant.

乌鸦传媒淚f you乌鸦传媒檙e doing a project like that you have to have a pretty good business case, and we will be developing a business case that will lay out the rationale for why and how we乌鸦传媒檙e doing it.乌鸦传媒�

Council agreed to write a letter in support of a grant application. The presentation also included forecasts and plans for growth within KRT.

Friesen added that while he appreciated the report, he still struggled with the investment West Kelowna makes in transit.

He noted that geography and density in outlying areas of the community make it difficult to provide a constant, adequate, and cost-effective service.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 not being controversial, but I am challenging and asking how do we make this work? I do think it乌鸦传媒檚 important. I do want to see fewer cars on the road. I乌鸦传媒檓 just not sure that the current model is going to make that happen.乌鸦传媒�

Friesen also challenged the BC Transit delegation to think outside the box in delivering service and efficiencies.

乌鸦传媒淲e have individuals that rely on it a hundred per cent,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut how do we get it so that it乌鸦传媒檚 more reliable? How do we get it so that it乌鸦传媒檚 more user-friendly and understand that it all comes at a cost?

Chelsea Mossey, senior manager with BC Transit Kelowna, said they are looking at innovative solutions, citing digital on-demand transit via smartphone as an example.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 certainly a trend that we乌鸦传媒檙e seeing throughout the transit industry,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not always to say that there乌鸦传媒檚 necessarily efficiencies found, but there is in some cases improved effectiveness from the perspective of the rider.乌鸦传媒�

Digital on-demand transit could end up as a pilot project in the KTR in 2024.

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