BC Transit and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission are advising customers of a seasonal service change, effective January 5, 2026.
The following changes are being made to improve customer experience across the Victoria Regional Transit System.
New Bus stops will be added to the Trans Canada Highway at Carey Road, and Ravine Way at Vernon Avenue.
New Route 40 Dockyard/UVic via Admirals/McKenzie – this new route will improve travel between Esquimalt, View Royal, and Saanich. This route is a result of the Esquimalt/View Royal Local Area Transit Plan.
Routes 14 and 15 service improvements on weekends to better align with frequent transit service levels.
Seasonal service reinstated on routes serving post-secondary institutions.
4 UVic/Downtown
7 UVic/Downtown
8 Interurban/Tillicum Centre/Oak Bay *minor service improvements in the afternoon peak period.
9 Royal Oak/UVic
12 University Heights/UVic
14 UVic/Vic General
21 Interurban/Downtown
26 Dockyard/UVic
38 Westhills/Interurban/Royal Oak
39 UVic/Royal Oak/Camosun
51X Westhills/UVic via McKenzie (Express)
52 Colwood Exch/Bear Mountain (Royal Roads University service only). *Service improvements in the morning and afternoon peak periods to better serve K-12 schools.
76 Swartz Bay/UVic
System-wide service reliability improvements Several routes have been adjusted to improve reliability and connections:
Route 81 Brentwood/Saanichton/Sidney/Swartz Bay will end at the Saanichton Exchange and become Route 75 Saanichton/Royal Oak/Downtown. Riders heading to Swartz Bay from Brentwood Bay or Butchart Gardens should check for destination signs reading “ROUTE 75 SAANICHTON EXCH / TO ROUTE 81”
The new Route 87 Tsawout/Sidney via Dean Park combines routes 82 and 87. This will double weekday trips to Tsawout First Nation. Service along Lochside Drive (formerly part of Route 82) will be discontinued.
Route 88 Airport/Sidney via McDonald Park will have improved access to the Victoria International Airport and West Sidney. Regular trips that do not go to West Sidney will operate as Route 88A Airport/Sidney.
Route 39 will be split into two routes – Routes 38 Westhills/Interurban/Royal Oak and 39 UVic/Royal Oak/Interurban. These routes will match up better with classes at Camosun and UVic.
Route 51 becomes Route 51X Westhills/UVic McKenzie Express and is extended to Westhills and rerouted via Goldstream Avenue. Hourly midday and additional early evening trips on this route will maintain the one-seat ride between the West Shore and UVic.
Route 65 rerouted through northeast Sooke will better serve the Arranwood and Steeple Chase neighbourhoods, with added peak-hour trips along Church/Helgesen.
Route 72 (northbound) rerouted via Carey Road and Ravine Way to use the new transit-only lane and serve the new bus stop on Ravine Way at Vernon Avenue.
Route 75 (northbound) adjusted to travel via Highway 17 and Elk Lake Drive instead of West Saanich Road. This change will address layover capacity issues at Royal Oak Exchange.
handyDART expansion includes an additional 7,500 hours and seven new custom vehicles to help address unmet trips during peak times. Service will still run Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For full details please check the latest Rider’s Guide.
We encourage our customers to use the Umo app, Google Transit or any other app of their choice for real-time bus tracking and planning your next transit journey.
For more information about trip planning, schedules and to sign up for customer alerts, please visit bctransit.com/victoria.
Routing Changes
Route 51X Westhills/UVic McKenzie Express
Renamed and rerouted via Goldstream Avenue.
Additional hourly midday and early evening trips will maintain the one-seat ride between the West Shore and UVic.
Additional stops on McKenzie at Braefoot Elementary School, Bay B at Westhills Exchange, and Bays D and E at Langford Exchange.
Route 65 Sooke/Langford/Downtown
Rerouted via Wadams Way/Church/Helgesen with new bus stops.
Two additional trips during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
Route 38 Westhills / Interurban / Royal Oak and Route 39 Uvic / Royal Oak / Interurban
The existing Routes 39 is being split into two routes:
Route 38 Westhills / Interurban / Royal Oak.
Route 39 Uvic / Royal Oak / Interurban.
Bus Bay changes at Westhills and Royal Oak Exchange. Please check bus stop signs before boarding.
New Route 40 Dockyard / UVic
New bus stops along Admirals Road between Craigflower Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.
30 minutes frequency during peak periods and 60 minutes all day.
Board at Bay Q at UVic Exchange.
Route 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown (northbound)
Rerouted via Carey Road and Ravine Way instead of Saanich Road and Vernon Avenue to utilize new the bus priority lane and new bus stop on Ravine Way.
Route 81 Brentwood / Saanichton / Sidney / Swartz Bay
Will terminate at Saanichton and is interlined with every second Route 75 trip. Passengers travelling from Butchart Gardens or Brentwood Bay to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal should check the sign on the front of the bus for “75 SAANICHTON EXCH / TO ROUTE 81”.
Route 75 Saanichton / Royal Oak / Downtown (northbound)
Revised routing via Highway 17 and Elk Lake Drive instead of West Saanich Road. If you are travelling north on Route 75, you should board at Bay I and E at Royal Oak Exchange.
Route 82 Sidney / Saanichton via Stautw
Discontinued and merged into a revised Route 87 Tsawout / Sidney via Dean Park
Route 88 Airport / Sidney
Extended to West Sidney every second trip. Regular trips that do not travel into West Sidney will operate as Route 88A.
