NORTH OKANAGAN – The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO),
District of Coldstream and City of Vernon along with BC Transit are inviting
the public to get on board with the region’s 25-year Transit Future Plan.
From October 25 to 31, 2012 BC Transit is bringing the ‘Transit Future
Bus’ to various locations throughout the RDNO to connect with community
members about area-specific transit needs, priorities and concerns.
The 40-foot decommissioned bus has been transformed in to an interactive public
consultation tool. The ‘Transit Future Bus’ features educational displays
that include a draft of RDNO’s 25-year transit plan, Post-It note boards
for rider-led initiatives, an iPad station and a Kids’ Zone. The Transit
Future Team will be travelling with the bus to answer questions and help visitors
learn more about public transportation in the region.
“British Columbia invests more in public transit than any other province
per capita,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. “We welcome this
unique opportunity to gather public input directly from the community to make
a world class transit system even better.”
“We look forward to interacting with many residents, agencies and business
in the Regional District to help us develop a comprehensive, long-term plan
for transit in our region,” said RDNO Chair Patrick Nicol. “This bus
will help attract attention to this important process.”
“In the past two years a new transit facility and downtown terminus have
been built in Vernon that will service the North Okanagan needs for the next
25 years,” said Vernon Acting Mayor Catherine Lord. “Last year the
Service Review identified short term options. Now this Future Plan will allow
all the partners to plan for the long term.”
“This is an opportunity for us to work with our partners and BC Transit
to find some solutions to issues of public transit in our community and the
region. We need to develop a transit system that can operate efficiently across
jurisdictional boundaries and better serve both our urban and rural communities,”
said Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick.
“In order for BC Transit to succeed for decades to come, we must listen
to what our customers want and need,” said BC Transit Vice-President &
CIO Brian Anderson. “By bringing the ‘Transit Future Bus’ to
popular community events and destinations, we receive direct input from our
riders on how to best grow a regional transit system that we can all take pride
in.”
‘TRANSIT FUTURE BUS’ SCHEDULE:
>October 25, 2012 Okanagan College, Vernon Campus Noon – 3 pm
>October 26, 2012 Schubert Centre (3505 30th Ave. Vernon) 9 am – 2 pm
>October 26, 2012 Westbild Centre (before Vipers Game) 5 pm – 7 pm
>October 27, 2012 Pumpkin Festival (Armstrong Fairgrounds) 9 am – 3
pm
>October 28, 2012 Sheardowns (2056 Vernon Street, Lumby) 10 am – noon
>October 29, 2012 Vernon Farmers’ Market (Westbild Centre) 8 am –
noon
>October 30, 2012 Village Green Mall (Food Court Entrance, Vernon) 11 am
– 5 pm
>October 31, 2012 Coldstream Farmers’ Market (9901 Kalamalka Road) 2
pm – 6 pm
Media Contact:
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson | BC Transit
d: 250.995.5720
meribeth_burton@bctransit.com
