Transit consultant Richard Drdul presented a draft of the Regional Transit Review to members of the regional district board last Thursday at the Community Services Committee meeting.
A final version of the report will be available later this year, Drdul told the board, after collecting input from the board and Okanagan College. Drdul expected to speak to the college after classes resume in September.
With BC Transit planning a study of the Okanagan valley next year, Drdul advised that the board might consider waiting until that study was complete before implementing any recommendations.
The study looked at transit requirements in Areas “D” and “F” as well as along the Highway 3 and 3A corridors in the Similkameen.
Drdul’s findings indicated that transit users in rural areas like the RDOS were made up of low income earners, seniors, the disabled, and youth.
“People with access to a vehicle don’t use transit,” he told the board. “It’s important to understand that - taking the bus sounds good in theory, but the reality is, in low population density areas, public transit cannot provide a viable service.”
Drdul’s conclusions regarding a transit plan for the Area “D” south of Penticton - around Skaha Lake - involves the creation of a “flex” route to Okanagan Falls via Eastside Road, with a “demand responsive” service to West Bench and Kaleden.
“The new route would be similar to the present Naramata service - having a flex route would allow the bus to make deviations to West Bench and Kaleden using the present Naramata bus.” Drdul also discussed the economics of such a change, advising the board that fare integration - allowing bus transfers from the rural routes to the Penticton city routes - would make the system look like a single transit system. This could be done, he explained, through a small fare increase on the rural route. The new service would add $102,000 per year to the present costs of transit service in the RDOS, which is presently paying $72,000 per year for Naramata’s route 10 service.
Areas “G” and “H” is presently receiving demand responsive service out of Princeton through the Handi Dart service, connecting Princeton, Hedley, Keremeos and Olalla to Penticton three times per week. The service is presently well used by Similkameen residents accessing Penticton for such things as medical services. Drdul discussed the possibility of a demand responsive service in Keremeos and Olalla with the possibility of extending service to Kelowna on request. He noted that the bus presently sits idle in Penticton while on layover waiting for to make the return trip to the Similkameen. The service could be expanded to Kelowna at little additional expense, he told the board, by utilizing that idle time. Drdul cited additional costs to expand this route at $15,000 annually for each additional day of service per week, and $5,000 per year for each additional hour added to the schedule.
Summerland Director Gordon Clark asked if there were any “cash cows” in the area’s transit system, to which Drdul replied that there was little profit to be found anywhere in public transit.
Area “D” Director Bill Schwarz if B.C. Transit provided any funding for the new route around Skaha Lake.
“BC Transit has seen my report,” Drdul replied, indicating that, even though the route would have to compete with other municipalities for 50 per cent funding, there was an excellent chance that BC Transit would be interested in it.
Area “G” Director Elef Christensen noted that users of the present service appreciated it, but that he had received requests for a longer turn around time in Penticton.
Area “B” Director George Hanson asked Drdul how his area fit into the picture, Drdul replying that his study didn’t look at it.
“The BC Transit study will look at the whole picture,” he said.
Osoyoos Director Stu Wells commented that the bus from Princeton could be routed through the Lower Similkameen to Osoyoos and be extended to Kelowna, making a complete connection through the Similkameen, including Area “B.”
Penticton Director Dan Ashton cautioned the directors of the costs involved in future expansion of the regional transit service.
“It costs the City of Penticton between six and eight dollars per passenger to ride the bus in Penticton,” he warned board members.
The final version of the consultant’s report is expected later in the fall.