Transit System: Cowichan Valley
COWICHAN VALLEY – Cowichan Valley transit users will benefit from several schedule and route changes taking effect on October 3, including a new bus route taking them directly between Duncan and Ladysmith.
New Route 36 Ladysmith – Duncan Express is the result of ridership demand for faster and more direct connections. It will make three return trips daily, Monday through Friday, to enable commuting and shopping connections between the two communities, and two daily trips on Saturdays.
Also, four routes in Ladysmith will be combined into two routes for more efficient local service:
Routes 31 Colonia and 32 Forrest Field will merge to become new Route 31 Ladysmith – Alderwood with new service to the Alderwood area; and
Routes 34 Westdowne and 35 Chemainus will become new Route 34 Ladysmith – Chemainus, with service along Highway 1 and River Road to and from Chemainus.
Route 33 Waterfront is being discontinued due to very low ridership, as is Sunday and statutory holiday service in Ladysmith.
Sunday and statutory holiday service is also being discontinued in Youbou and Honeymoon Bay due to very low ridership. However, there will be an added evening trip on Route 20 Youbou, Monday to Thursday at 7:09 p.m., to be consistent with service levels on Route 21, Honeymoon Bay. Trip times in the mornings are also changing on both routes to help address large gaps in trip frequency.
Fans of the Duncan Farmers’ Market will also be able to take the bus there from Mill Bay through Cowichan Bay on Saturday mornings as a new trip on Route 9 Mill Bay/Duncan will enable people to reach the Farmers’ Market around 9:30 a.m.
All of these improvements are being achieved within the allotted service budget.
For full details of the new and revised services, please consult the new Rider’s Guide, available on buses or online at https://www.bctransit.com/cowichan-valley/schedules-and-maps/riders-guide.
Media Contact: Jonathon Dyck, BC Transit Media Relations
250-995-5720 | Media@bctransit.com
