KELOWNA – Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country,
joined Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country, Walter Gray, Mayor of Kelowna,
and Mike Davis, chief operating officer and vice-president operations for BC
Transit to celebrate the official opening of the new Rutland Transit Exchange
and welcome three new Vicinity buses.
“ Investments in public transit will keep Kelowna’s residents and
visitors moving, contribute to productivity, a nd reduce the amount of greenhouse
– gas emissions across the region ,” said Cannan. “Our g overnment
is proud to invest in infrastructure projects, such as the Rutland Exchange,
as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth and building strong, prosperous
co mmunities across Canada. ”
The Rutland transit exchange is part of the frequent transit network, and provides
commuters with direct access to RapidBus service. The network offers riders
service at least every 15 minutes, or more frequently, during peak hou rs. The
new exchange is also part of the City of Kelowna’s revitalization program
for the area.
In addition to the new transit exchange, three new Vicinity buses will be added
to Kelowna’s regional transit system beginning this week. The environmentally
f riendly buses are designed to meet community needs and will improve access
for people with mobility challenges. They also provide long – term fuel and
maintenance savings for communities. Kelowna is one of six communities in B.C.
to receive the new sleek and modern buses.
“ Transit service is essential to supporting families and building strong
communities ,” said Letnick. “ In addition to the re cent RapidBus
expansion to the W estside, these new improvements will make taking the bus
easier and encourage more pe ople to ride the bus. ”
The Rutland transit exchange was funded through a $1.4 – million contribution
from the federal Gas Tax Fund, $2 million from the Government of British Columbia
and $1.1 million from the City of Kelowna, for a total of $4.5 million.
“This project is the first major component in the revitalization of the
Rutland Town Centre,” said Gray. “The Rutland Transit Exchange and
associated roadway and pedestrian improvements have made a tremendous improvement
for the Rutland community, residents and businesses.”
RapidBus service, once complete in summer 2014, will provide 30 kilometres
of service between University of British Columbia Okanagan and West Kelowna.
This will save transit users approximately 20 minutes travel time, making it
easier and faster for families and commuters.
“This exchange, the new Vicinity buses and RapidBus all add up to better
transit service for Kelowna area residents,” said Davis. “BC Transit
is pleased to have partnered with the federal, provincial and loca l governments
to connect people to their destinations easier and faster than ever before.”
The RapidBus project costs $46 million, with the Government of Canada contributing
up to $ 10.9 million from the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure
Componen t and another $6 million from the Gas Tax Fund. The Government of B
. C . is contributing $23. 9 million, the City of Kelowna $5.2 million and West
Kelowna is contributing land.
The federal Gas Tax Fund transfer provides long – term funding to municipalities
a cross the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The
Government of Canada has now made the GTF a permanent transfer and has proposed
improvements that will see the GTF grow from its current $2 billion per year,
while providing increase d flexibility on how the money can be used to fund
local infrastructure priorities. Discussions are underway with provinces and
territories to renew the GTF agreements so that these improvements can be implemented
as soon as possible.
Between 2006 and 20 14, British Columbia will receive more than $1.56 billion
from the Gas Tax Fund transfer to improve local infrastructure. The Union of
British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C.,
in collaboration with Canada and British Col umbia.
Learn more:
For information on Kelowna RapidBus, visit: www.kelownarapidbus.ca
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure, visit
: www.infrastructure.gc.ca
or follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng
For information on the Government of British Columbia ’s Transit Plan
, visit : www.th.gov.bc.ca/Transit_Plan/
For information on BC Transit, visit : www.bctransit.com/
For information on the City of Kelowna, visit: www.kelowna
.ca/
Media Contacts:
Marie – Josée Paquette
Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental
Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions
of Quebec
613 943 – 1838
Kate Trotter
Government Communications & Public Engagement Ministry of Transportation
& Infrastructure
250 356 – 8421
Tom Wilson
City of Kelowna Corporate Communications Supervisor
250 469 – 8663
Sharlene Smith
BC Transit Kelowna Rapid Bus
250 882 – 1583
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect
