Kelowna Regional Transit System

Kelowna Regional Transit System

8 University bus at Orchard Park Bus Exchange
Headquarters 1494 Hardy Street
Locale Kelowna, BC
Service type bus service, paratransit
Alliance BC Transit
Operator FirstCanada[1]
Web site Kelowna Regional Transit System

Kelowna Regional Transit System is operated by FirstCanada, providing public bus transportation services in part of the central Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada.[2] Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna, Central Okanagan Regional District, District of Lake Country and BC Transit.[2]

Kelowna Regional Transit was one of the first public transit system in Canada to have double-decker buses, and the first in Canada to have hybrid buses on regular routes.[3]

Contents

Services

Bus routes

There are 23 regularly scheduled routes and a BRT service called RapidBus, connecting between Downtown Queensway Exchange and UBC Okanagan Exchange.[4] Also, there is one route operated by Vernon Regional Transit within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area.

No. Name Area Description Notes
1 Lakeshore
Mission/Downtown
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Pandosy, Okanagan College, Lakeshore → Lexington → Gordon → McLure → Lakeshore
2 North End Shuttle Kelowna Downtown Queensway → Ellis → Cambridge → Richter → Downtown Queensway
3 Dilworth Mt. Kelowna Orchard Park → Dilworth → Summit → High → Glenmore → Yates → Summit → Orchard Park Community Shuttle Route
4 Express
Pandosy/UBCO
Kelowna Mission Town Centre, K.L.O., Benvoulin, Orchard Park, UBC Okanagan
6 Glenmore to UBCO
Downtown/UBCO
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Cross, Snowsell, Union, Valley, Sexsmith, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan
7 Glenmore
Downtown/Orchard Park
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Orchard Park Limited Service to Scenic
8 University
OC/UBCO
Kelowna Okanagan College, Springfield, Orchard Park, Baron, Highway 33, Rutland, UBC Okanagan
9 Shopper Shuttle
Downtown/Rutland
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Parkinson, Orchard Park → Baron → Banks → Enterprise → Orchard Park
10 North Rutland
Downtown/Rutland
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Bernard, Orchard Park, Enterprise, Highway 33, Rutland, Fitzpatrick
11 Rutland
Downtown/Rutland
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Orchard Park, Springfield, Hollywood, McCurdy
12 McCulloch
Gallaghers/OC
Kelowna Mission Town Centre, K.L.O., McCulloch Service to Orchard Park on Sunday Only
14 Black Mountain
Rutland/Black Mountain
Kelowna Rutland, Highway 33, Loseth, Begley Community Shuttle Route
15 Crawford Kelowna Dehart → Crawford → Parkridge → Dehart Community Shuttle Route
16 Southwest Mission Kelowna Dehart → Chute Lake → South Crest → Arbor View → Dehart Community Shuttle Route
20 Lakeview
Westbank/Downtown
West Kelowna Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Westbank Exchange
21 Glenrosa
Downtown/Glenrosa
West Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Stevens, Highway 97, Glenrosa, Webber, Blue Jay
22 Peachland Peachland Westbank Exchange, Highway 97, Beach, Princeton, Pine Hills
23 Lake Country Lake Country UBC Okanagan, (Airport), Winfield, Lake Country Limited Service to Kelowna International Airport
8/23 Lake Country via UBCO Lake Country Okanagan College, UBC Okanagan, Lake Country Combined service (Route 8 and 23)
24 Shannon Lake
Stevens Exch/West Bank
West Kelowna Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Old Okanagan Highway, Shannon, Westbank Exchange
25 East Boundary
Stevens Exch/West Bank
West Kelowna Stevens Exchange, East Boundary, Butt, Westbank Exchange Community Shuttle Route
27 Horizon West Kelowna Stevens Exchange → Horizon → Boucherie → Stevens Exchange Community Shuttle Route
28 Smith Creek West Kelowna Westbank Exchange → Smith Creek → Elliot → Westbank Exchange Community Shuttle Route
29 Bear Creek West Kelowna Stevens Exchange → Westlake → Bear Creek → Stevens Exchange Community Shuttle Route
88 School Special Kelowna September to June; Schooldays only.
90 North Okanagan Connector
UBCO/Vernon
Vernon UBC Okanagan, Airport, Winfield, Lake Country, Oyama, Regional Fare Zone Boundary, Vernon Interregional express route operated by Vernon Regional. Kelowna Regional fare applies for travel within Kelowna fare zone boundary.
97X RapidBus
UBCO/Downtown
Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan Bus rapid transit service[5]

RapidBus

RapidBus is rapid bus transit operated by Kelowna Regional Transit System. RapidBus is currently planned to expand its service to West Kelowna. New RapidBus stops are planned to be constructed at Gordon, Richter, and Edwards. Long-term plans detail expanding service to West Kelowna but they are postponed indefinitely until funding becomes available.[6] Digital screens with real-time schedule information are planned to be installed at all stops.[6]

97x RapidBus connects downtown Kelowna and UBC Okanagan via HOV lanes on Highway 97 with traffic signal priority with the following limited stops[5]:

Unenclosed bus shelters are installed at all stops on Highway 97. An enclosed weatherproof shelter with on-demand heaters is installed at UBC Okanagan Exchange.[7]

All RapidBus stops on Highway 97 are raised to match with the height of the bus floors, allowing wheelchair users to enter or exit the bus without using the ramp. Stops are designed to minimize the gap between the bus and the curb. Only Nova Buses are compatible with this set-up since double deckers and New Flyers are low-floor and will not be used for liability and practicality purposes. Smooth FRP plank is attached to the curve, allowing buses to contact the curb without damaging or scratching the vehicle. Tactile pavings are installed at all raised stops on Highway 97.

North Okanagan Connector

90 North Okanagan Connector is an interregional route connecting UBC Okanagan and downtown Vernon. This route is operated by Vernon Regional Transit, but Kelowna Regional Transit System fare applies for travel within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area. Kelowna Regional Transit passes and transfers are also valid between UBC Okanagan and Oyama.[8]

Paratransit

HandyDART is a dial-a-ride service for people with a disability that is sufficiently severe that they are unable to use regular transit buses without assistance. Clients must be pre-registered to make use of this service.

Bicycle carriers

All buses are equipped with bicycle carriers, capable of holding two bikes at a time.[9] Carriers cannot hold tandem or motor-powered bikes. Also, the length of handle bars must be shorter than 69 cm.[9] Bicycles are not allowed on community shuttles before dawn or after sunset, because they would block the headlights.

Proposed Changes/Improvements

No. Name Area Notes
1 Lakeshore
Mission/Downtown
Kelowna This route will strictly run down Pandosy and Lakeshore and no longer serve Okanagan College, however, this route will only be a short walk away. The route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre.
2 North End Shuttle Kelowna This route will be absorbed into the new #5 route.
4 Express
Pandosy/UBCO
Kelowna This route will still serve Okanagan College to make up for the loss of the direct #1 service.
5 Gordon Drive Express Kelowna Route from Queensway Exchange (downtown) north on Water Street, east on Cawston, and south of Gordon to terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre with connections to the 15, 16, and 17 routes.
6 Glenmore to UBCO
Downtown/UBCO
Kelowna Due to high ridership, this route's frequency will likely be increased.
7 Glenmore
Downtown/Orchard Park
Kelowna This route will only serve Orchard Park, however, the #6 will replace the #7 Queensway's role of getting downtown.
8 University
OC/UBCO
Kelowna This route will run to Okanagan College and do a loop around the block in order to replace the existing confusing terminus route.
11 Rutland
Downtown/Rutland
Kelowna This route will de diverted to Kelowna General Hospital and then head to Queensway Exchange (downtown).
15 Crawford Mission Route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre instead of Lakeshore @ Dehart where there will be amenities available such as food, washrooms, a library, public pool, gym, and a payphone.
16 Southwest Mission Mission Same changes as Route 15 Crawford.
17 Unnamed Mission Route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre and continue down Gordon to served the Kuipers residential area in SW Mission.
22 Peachland Peachland Establish a park and ride in Peachland to serve residents not located directly adjacent to the route.
27 Horizon West Kelowna Marked for elimination due to low ridership.
28 Smith Creek West Kelowna Marked for elimination due to low ridership. Route 24 Shannon Lake may be expanded into this area to make up for loss of service.
29 Bear Creek West Kelowna Marked for elimination due to low ridership.
90 North Okanagan Connector-Vernon Vernon Bus will no longer exit the highway to serve Oyama since statistic show few boardings in that area. Instead, it is proposed that a park and ride be established in Lake Country instead to serve these residents.
97X RapidBus
UBCO/Downtown
Kelowna Construct stops and Gordon and Richter within a few years and eventually continue to West Kelowna to serve the proposed Boucherie Exchange and Westbank Exchange as funding becomes available.
## Quail Ridge Shuttle Winfield Proposed to run from UBC Okanagan to the adjacent residential community where many students reside in the apartments and basement suites. This community is cut off from the city without the use of personal vehicles and the natural trail connecting the UBC Okanagan is potentially a safety risk, especially at night, until improvements are made.

Fares[10]

Fare Type Cash Fare 10 Tickets Day Pass Monthly Pass Semester Pass
Adult $2.00 $18.00 $5.50 $53.00
College Student $2.00 $18.00 $5.50 $43.00 $138.00
Senior $1.75 $15.25 $5.00 $37.00
Student to Grade 12 $1.75 $15.25 $5.00 $34.00
Children Under 5 No Charge
handyDART $2.00 $60.00

Students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus have access to U-PASS program.

References

External links