As the year comes to a close, BC Transit is celebrating several major milestones and accomplishments that are all directly related to improving reliability and the customer experience. Below is a list of some of our biggest developments that impacted our service throughout the province in 2024 and beyond.
Umo is live
Riders upgraded their fare payments in 2024 with the arrival of the Umo Mobility app and reloadable Umo card across the province. This year, BC Transit completed its 30-transit system deployment schedule for the innovative Umo fare system before supporting riders transition their fare product to new Umo enabled options. Riders excited for debit, credit, and mobile wallet payments won’t have to wait long, with the next phase of BC Transit’s Umo project coming in 2025.
NextRide expanded
BC Transit introduced NextRide to 10 transit systems, outfitting 607 buses with Automated Vehicle Location technology. With NextRide, transit riders can use smart mobile devices and desktop services to see the real-time location of their bus along its route and the predicted arrival times at identified stops. Expanding the NextRide program improves customer experience, increases safety for riders and drivers, improves accessibility for users and provides important data for better route planning that benefits customers.
OnDemand launches in Kelowna
In April, BC Transit introduced OnDemand to customers in the Crawford neighborhood of Kelowna. OnDemand is a modern on-request transit option that offers customers the convenience of booking trips using a smartphone app. There is no fixed route or schedule, and buses are dispatched on a request basis to a safe pick-up location near the customer. With a customer service rating of 4.7 stars out of 5 in the Crawford neighbourhood, OnDemand is gaining in popularity! We look forward to the possibility of introducing this service to other transit systems in the coming years.
New buses join fleet
BC Transit is committed to providing safe, continuous, and reliable transit service for our customers. This year, we added 44 new Light Duty buses to various transit systems around the province. Each bus is equipped with a white LED destination sign that clearly shows the bus number, route name, and destination. The interior of the buses includes modern vinyl seating and better lighting to make the commuting experience much more comfortable for riders. We also just welcomed two Heavy Duty buses last week that will go into service in the Victoria Regional Transit Service soon. New buses help ensure that we have a reliable fleet to meet the growing demand for transit in the communities we serve.
Electric and hybrid buses on the way
In spring 2024, BC Transit announced which communities will be the first to receive electric buses: Chilliwack, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Nelson, Powell River, Sunshine Coast, Victoria and Whistler. In late 2024 we announced that one Hundred twenty-five heavy-duty electric buses are now on order with New Flyer and Nova Bus, with the first 10 expected to arrive in Victoria in early 2025. BC Transit also announced the intent to procure 105 heavy-duty hybrid buses. The hybrid bus platform will help more communities realize reductions in GHG emissions.
BusReady youth program hits the schools
BC Transit’s BusReady program teaches kids how to ride public transit confidently and safely. This early education encourages lifelong use of public transportation and contributes to a stronger, more sustainable transit system in the future. Our bus tours and interactive classroom presentations create a positive and engaging transit experience for these young students, making BC Transit both familiar and fun. During the 2023/2024 school year in BC, we visited over 300 classrooms and reached more than 9,000 children with our public transit education program. Families and educators can visit our dedicated BusReady website for more information.
A new look announced
BC Transit is introducing new green livery for its buses, marking the first major design update in 17 years. Customers will see the fresh, modern look on all new buses across the province, showcasing BC Transit’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and encouraging people to take public transit. The design is also easier to install and repair, helping the maintenance team get buses back on the road. This update only applies to new buses, so customers will notice a mix of bus liveries until the older fleet is fully retired.
Increased ridership and expanded service
In 2024, boardings on fixed-route service throughout the province increased by approximately 14% over the previous year. As demand for public transit increases, it’s important to maintain service levels that match it. In Budget 2024, the province provided funding to support the implementation of approximately 100,000 new annual service hours and 38 buses in fiscal year 2024/25. This is the highest level of expansion funding for one year in BC Transit’s history. Some expansions have already been implemented, with the rest taking place in early 2025.
BC Transit would like to take this opportunity to thank our hard-working employees for their dedication, our customers for their ongoing support, and our local government and operating company partners for their continued collaboration. BC Transit looks forward to providing customers throughout the province with safe and reliable public transit in 2025 and will work hard to be your transportation solution.
Media Contacts
BC Transit Communications
media@bctransit.com
