Transit System: Cowichan Valley
COWICHAN VALLEY – BC Transit and the Cowichan Valley Regional District
(CVRD) are celebrating the official launch of transit service in Ladysmith and
the 20th anniversary of CVRD transit with free rides on Tuesday, September
3, 2013.
Free rides helped launch the original service back in September 1993.
In 2013, we are going back to the future with free rides again – rewarding
customers who have made CVRD transit an incredible success. The free rides
are available on September 3, 2013 only and exclude the Cowichan Commuter.
Ridership on transit in the CVRD has grown by nearly 3,000% in 20 years – from
15,000 passenger trips in 1993 to more than 443,000 in 2012/13. Those figures
include the Cowichan Commuter which was introduced in 2008 and has quickly become
an inter-region success story for BC Transit.
As of September 3, 2013, transit in the CVRD evolves again with local Ladysmith
service and regional service to Chemainus. Two 20-passenger community buses
will be used to provide 3,000 local service hours per year. An additional 1,100
annual service hours will be used to connect Ladysmith with Chemainus and the
rest of the Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System.
“BC Transit and the Cowichan Valley Regional District continue to work
hard to improve transit service and attract passengers,” said Transportation
and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “People in Ladysmith will appreciate
the convenience of the new service and a day of free transit to celebrate 20
years on the road.”
“20 years of public transit is a notable milestone for the transit partners
and communities of the CVRD”, said CVRD Board Chair Rob Hutchins. “We
are honored to offer free transit on September 3rd to help celebrate 20 years
of transit in the Cowichan Valley and to launch the new service expansion to
Ladysmith.”
“Congratulations to our partners in the Cowichan Valley on delivering
20 terrific years of public transit service and welcome Ladysmith to our transit
family,” said BC Transit Vice President and CIO Brian Anderson. “We
are excited to see the efficient and effective service attracting new customers
and providing a vital link to work, school and recreational pursuits.”
Buying transit fare products for the Cowichan Valley Regional System is now
easier than ever, with online sales that can be accessed through the Cowichan
Ticket Centre at www.ctcentre.bc.ca
Local and commuter dayPASS, tickets (10), semester passes and monthly passes
can be purchased through the website beginning September 6, 2013.
For more information on transit services in the Cowichan Valley, consult www.bctransit.com/regions/cow
or call 250.746.9899.
Media Contacts:
Jim Wakeham
Manager, Facilities, Fleet and Transit Management
Engineering and Environmental Services Department
Cowichan Valley Regional
250.746.2549
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson | BC Transit
d: 250.995.5720
c: 250.507.8145
meribeth_burton@bctransit.com
