The West Coast Transit system was an idea, a dream, more than a decade ago but in March 2025, it became a reality. What has transpired since then is a transit system that has helped shape the community it serves, providing a safe and affordable connections for people in Tofino, Ucluelet, Long Beach, the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community of hitaću, and the Tla-o-qui-aht communities of Esowista and Ty-histanis.
History of the West Coast Transit system
This wasn’t a project that was developed overnight or even over a year, the story of the West Coast Transit system starts in 2008 with a pre-feasibility study. It wasn’t until 2020 that a service plan was created. Planning, scheduling, government partners, the operating company and others from across the BC Transit organization, all had to work together to put the plan into place. However, no expansion funds were available during or immediately following the pandemic. To help get the project moving, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) partnered with Watt Consulting and Keolis Canada to launch an interim public transit service in 2024, with the garage and maintenance in Port Alberni.
Once the provincial funding arrived, everyone involved got down to work, with the goal of officially launching BC Transit’s newest system by March 2025.
“It’s incredible and rewarding work to be able to take a system from a complex web of theoretical ideas to something that is tangible and real,” Senior Government Relations Manager Seth Wright explained. “Providing meaningful service to the people in the community.”
Learnings from the last year
It has been a learning experience for everyone involved. In October 2025, BC Transit made the decision to pull the last trip of the night but this decision was not well received. Some pointed out that many people use the service as a way to connect, allowing young people to visit friends in nearby communities. In the past, people would walk or cycle this route, sometimes at late hours. This trip would give people more freedom and the confidence to safely travel later at night, making life more accessible for everyone, something that was evident right from day one.
Regional Operations Manager Kaelyn Sanders says something stood out to her when she attended the opening of the new system in 2025.
“Seeing the amount of school kids that were so excited to have the opportunity to travel back and forth, maybe take the bus after school, instead of having to walk home,” Sanders said. “This was something so desperately needed and the entire community came out to support it. There was energy behind the transit system.”
The late-night trip has since been added back to the schedule and the bus now travels the same schedule every day, all day.
Nuu-chah-nulth language on bus stop signs
While the connections between communities are special, there is another aspect of this transit system that makes it unique. For the first time in BC Transit history, an Indigenous language was added to the bus stop signs.
BC Transit and the ACRD worked closely with members of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation to get Nuu-chah-nulth on all West Coast Transit System bus stop signs. This work was supported by language keeper Jeneva Touchie of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government who provided BC Transit with the Nuu-chah-nulth language for our signs.
This was something not only recognized locally but nationally as well. In November 2025, BC Transit was awarded the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
A beautiful place to visit
The West Coast Transit system is an important part of several communities from Ucluelet to Tofino with more passengers exploring the route all the time.
A message for anyone considering a trip up island to visit Tofino from Senior Government Relations Manager Seth Wright –
It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the province and the communities are incredibly dynamic and interesting small towns full of fun and beautiful things to see. It’s awesome to be able to ride the bus and to experience the connections that BC Transit provides to those communities.
WCT Fast Facts
- One route – Route 1 Tofino/Ucluelet
- One National Park – Pacific Rim National Park
- 36 bus stops
- 3 languages on bus stop signs (English, French and Nuu-chah-nulth)
- 27,000 passenger trips over the last year
- 6 communities connected – Tofino, Ucluelet, Long Beach, the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ community of hitaću, and the Tla-o-qui-aht communities of Esowista and Ty-histanis
- 7 days a week service – from 7am – 10:30pm