A joint investment of more than C$248.5 million (US$179.7 million) from the government of Canada, the province of British Columbia and BC Transit will allow transit entities under BC Transit’s operational umbrella to receive new buses and see important upgrades to public transit infrastructure.
The investment will help BC Transit complete four separate vehicle acquisitions, purchasing approximately 210 light duty buses, 29 high-capacity diesel buses, 10 high-capacity battery- electric buses (BEB) and six light duty BEBs. The new vehicles will support both handyDART and conventional transit services and replace aging models that currently serve regional transit systems.
“Replacing our aging fleet, maintaining existing fleets and making sure our customers have transit shelters that make their experience a more comfortable one are all great projects being funded with this announcement. As we have now returned to our pre-pandemic ridership levels, the addition of more buses will continue to help us ensure transit remains the most convenient transportation solution for communities across the province. All these projects are made possible by all levels of government working together and I thank everyone involved in funding public transit,” said Erinn Pinkerton, president and CEO, BC Transit.
Funding will further support additional transit improvements across British Columbia. A component replacement initiative will extend the life, reliability and safety of up to 377 high-capacity double-decker heavy and medium duty buses in BC Transit’s fleet through transmission, engine, differential and driver seat replacements. Approximately 286 new and refitted bus shelters throughout British Columbia will also provide transit users with comfort and safety in inclement weather.
In Kelowna, funding will support a design plan for a new operations and maintenance facility and complete upgrades to the existing Kelowna Transit Center to support service expansion and a future BEB fleet for the regional transit system. The facility upgrades in Kelowna and the vehicles acquired in service areas throughout the province align with BC Transit’s plan to electrify its fleet by 2040 and the province’s CleanBC emissions reduction goals.
“Investing in public transit improvements supports our nation-wide commitment to make public transit robust, reliable and a convenient travel option. The new and retrofitted bus shelters will improve commuters’ experience and comfort while the transit center plans and upgrades, bus acquisitions and major bus component replacements will increase ridership and reduce our carbon footprint. Canada will continue to build strong public transit systems to help British Columbians and all Canadians get to where they need to go,” said Member of Parliament for Richmond Center Wilson Miao.
The government of Canada is investing C$102.3 million (US$73.9 million) in the projects while the government of British Columbia is investing C$99.2 million (US$71.7 million) and BC Transit is contributing C$46.9 billion (US$33.9 million).
“These investments are another great example of the province, the federal government and BC Transit’s shared commitment to improving public transit and providing people with affordable alternative ways to travel. This funding will help transition to buses that use cleaner power sources, upgrade bus stop shelters, carry out critical maintenance activities and ensure our transit exchanges are modern and efficient to accommodate future growth,” said British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming.
