Transit System: Cowichan Valley
DUNCAN – BC Transit and the Cowichan Valley Regional District are
pleased to announce expanded service for the Cowichan Valley’s transit system.
An additional 2,500 service hours will be implemented February 6, 2012 to improve
transit service.
These service improvements are a direct result of customer input received by
BC Transit and the CVRD during the Transit Future Plan development process in
January and September 2011. One of the short-term recommendations of CVRD residents’
was to focus on increasing frequency on existing routes in order to build a
more consistent schedule for transit riders.
“The CVRD is striving to create a transit system that is supported and
reflects the needs of our communities. The Transit Future Plan has provided
an opportunity to gain valuable public feedback regarding the current and future
vision of the CVRD transit system which has resulted in this service improvement”,
said Rob Hutchins, Chair of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
“In partnership with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and its partners,
we are pleased to provide this expanded and improved service,” said Manuel
Achadinha, President and CEO of BC Transit. “BC Transit is committed to
providing the best value for our customers and the communities we serve.”
“The people who use the service are helping to shape how transit is delivered,”
said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom. “This is
a perfect example of how to make a very popular service even better.”
Starting February 6th, Cowichan Valley transit customers will benefit from
the following enhanced schedule changes:
- Route 4 Maple Bay – an additional trip to Maple Bay leaving Village
Green Mall @ 11:00 a.m.
- Route 5 Eagle Heights – the current 8:33 a.m. trip departure from Village
Green Mall will depart earlier at 7:30 a.m.
- Route 6 Crofton – Chemainus – an earlier start on the first a.m.
trip plus an additional trip to Chemainus leaving Village Green Mall @ 11:20
a.m.
- Route 7 Cowichan Lake – one additional a.m. trip and one additional
p.m. trip to and from Cowichan Lake plus some minor adjustments.
- Route 10 South Cowichan Connector – an additional trip to Cowichan
Bay leaving Village Green Mall at 10:18 a.m.
- Route 12 Shawnigan Lake and Route 15 Mill Bay – revised alternating
a.m. weekday trips to smooth the schedule in the morning and improve efficiency
Changes will also take place on the Cowichan Valley Commuter (CVC) routes.
These changes are based on feedback received from Commuter passenger surveys
in March and September 2011 followed by an open house in early December.
CVC Service Change Highlights:
- Schedule changes to Route 66 Duncan and Route 99 Shawnigan Lake:
- revised p.m. trip departures from Victoria to accommodate customer
work times,
- minor schedule adjustments to the a.m. departures in Duncan and Shawnigan
Lake.
- Relocation of the bus stop at the Victoria Legislature from Government,
to Superior at Government Street for p.m. departure trips.
- The timing point at Hwy 1 at Millstream Interchange will be removed but
the bus stop will remain.
- Northbound CVC buses are now permitted to use the right exit at the Spencer
Road intersection and then turn right back onto Hwy 1 in order to avoid traffic
congestion.
Funding for the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System is cost shared between
the Cowichan Valley Regional District and BC Transit.
More information on the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System can be found
at www.bctransit.com.
