Kelowna Regional Transit System

Kelowna Regional Transit System

8 University bus at Orchard Park Bus Exchange
Founded	1977
Headquarters	1494 Hardy Street
Locale	Kelowna, BC
Service area	Central Okanagan
Service type	bus service, paratransit
Alliance	BC Transit
Operator	FirstCanada[1]
Website	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, Regional District of Central Okanagan, District of Lake Country, City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and BC Transit,^[2] while the planning and routing decisions are primarily made by Kelowna City Council.^[3] BC Transit contracts out most of its bus services to FirstCanada ULC. Kelowna Regional Transit was one of the first public transit systems in Canada to have double-decker buses, and the first in Canada to have hybrid buses on regular routes.^[4] The hybrid buses have since been relocated to Victoria.

Services

Bus routes

There are 28 regularly scheduled routes and a BRT service called RapidBus, connecting Westbank Centre Exchange, downtown Queensway Transit Exchange and UBC Okanagan Exchange.^[5] 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, Kelowna Regional Hospital, Okanagan College, Lakeshore, Mission Rec Centre (H2O)
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	Conventional bus route (sometimes combined with the 7 Glenmore.
4	Express Pandosy/UBCO	Kelowna	Mission Town Centre, K.L.O., Benvoulin, Orchard Park, UBC Okanagan	Weekday rush hours, September to April only
5	Gordon Mission/Downtown	Kelowna	Downtown Queensway, Clement, Gordon, Okanagan College, Mission Rec Centre (H2O)
6	Glenmore to UBCO Downtown/UBCO	Kelowna	Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Cross, Snowsell, Union, Valley, Sexsmith, Adams, Edwards, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan	Weekday rush hours only, September to April only
7	Glenmore Downtown/Orchard Park	Kelowna	Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Orchard Park
8	University OC/UBCO	Kelowna	Okanagan College, Kelowna Regional Hospital, 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	Limited service to Orchard Park Mall (Exchange)
13	Quail Ridge	Kelowna	UBC Okanagan → Quail Run at Brindisi → Country Club → UBC Okanagan	Weekdays, mornings and afternoons only
14	Black Mountain Rutland/Black Mountain	Kelowna	Rutland, Highway 33, Loseth, Black Mountain Drive, Large	Community Shuttle Route
15	Crawford	Kelowna	Mission Rec. Exchange → Dehart → Crawford → Parkridge → Dehart → Mission Rec. Exchange
16	Kettle Valley	Mission	Mission Rec. Exchange → Chute Lake → Quilchena → Chute Lake → Mission Rec. Exchange
17	Southridge	Mission	Mission Rec. Exchange, Gordon, Raymer, Arbor View, Kildeer and Lefevere
20	Lakeview Westbank/Downtown	West Kelowna	Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Westbank Exchange	AM/PM commuter direct service to downtown Kelowna (Queensway Exchange)
21	Glenrosa Downtown/Glenrosa	West Kelowna	Westbank Exchange, 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	Service to Kelowna International Airport
24	Shannon Lake Stevens Exch/West Bank	West Kelowna	Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Old Okanagan Highway, Shannon, Westbank Exchange	AM/PM commuter direct service to downtown Kelowna (Queensway 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, weekdays only
28	Smith Creek	West Kelowna	Westbank Exchange → Smith Creek → Elliot → Westbank Exchange	Community Shuttle Route, weekdays only
29	Bear Creek	West Kelowna	Stevens Exchange → Westlake → Bear Creek → Stevens Exchange	Community Shuttle Route, weekdays only
32	The Lakes	Lake Country	Main, Bottom Wood Lake, Oceola, Lake Hill	Weekdays only
88	School Special	Kelowna		September to June; School Days 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 Okanagan UBCO/Downtown/Westbank	Kelowna/West Kelowna	Westbank Exchange, Highway 97, Kelowna Downtown Queensway, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan	Bus rapid transit service[6]

RapidBus

97X RapidBus is rapid bus transit operated by Kelowna Regional Transit System since September 2010. RapidBus expanded its service to West Kelowna on September 2, 2012. Digital screens with real-time schedule information are planned to be installed at all stops.^[7]

97x RapidBus connects West Kelowna, downtown Kelowna and UBC Okanagan via HOV lanes on Highway 97 with traffic signal priority with limited stops to provide fast and direct service.

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

Potential Transit Routing Changes

No.	Name	Area	Notes
1	Lakeshore/Downtown 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. Furthermore, the 5 Gordon Drive can take the place of the 1 Lakeshore. The route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre.
2	North End Shuttle	Kelowna	This route will form a figure-8 routing taking over the portion of Sutherland Avenue previously serviced by the 11 South Rutland.
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/Downtown Express	Kelowna	Route from Queensway Exchange (downtown) north on Ellis Street, east on Clement, and south of Gordon to terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre with connections to the 15, 16, and 17 routes.
6	Glenmore/UBCO Downtown/UBCO	Kelowna	When John Hindle Drive is extended to UBCO, this route will likely be combined with the 7 Glenmore to provide all-day service to UBCO.
7	Glenmore Downtown/Orchard Park	Kelowna	When John Hindle Drive is extended to UBCO, this route will likely be combined with the 7 Glenmore to provide all-day service to UBCO.
8	University/OK College OC/UBCO	Kelowna	This route will run to Okanagan College and route through Campus East Route to avoid duplication of Gordon Drive with the 5 Gordon Drive and also provide two-way service on Ethel..
11	Rutland Downtown/Rutland	Kelowna	This route will de diverted to Kelowna General Hospital via Springfield, Ethel, and Rose and then head to Queensway Exchange (downtown). The new #2 routing and 97 RapidBus stations at Gordon Drive and Parkinson will make up for this loss of service on Sutherland Avenue.
22	Peachland	Peachland	Establish a park and ride in Peachland to serve residents not located directly adjacent to the route.
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	Okanagan 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.

Future Infrastructure

Over $50 million is being invested in Phases 2 and 3 of RapidBus in 2013 and 2014 with infrastructure being completed in West Kelowna and Kelowna.

Rutland Exchange

The Rutland Exchange is located just north of Highway 33 and between Asher and Dougall Roads. It is a small part of the grand Rutland Town Centre Plan.

Phase 1 of the exchange was completed in September 2013 and currently only the #14 Black Mountain services it. To have routes 8 and 10 service the exchange at this time would be cumbersome and unnecessary.

The future plan, pending negotiations with he Rutland Centennial Park Society, is to extend the exchange and its road, through the park to Rutland Road to allow easy left and right turns onto Rutland Road. At this time, the 8 University, 10 North Rutland, and potential East Rutland route will be able to service it.

RapidBus Stations

New stations have been constructed on Highway 97 at Gordon Drive, Richter Street, and Butt Road. They are a level-boarding design, similar to the 8 other currently existing stations. With the announcement of the six-laning of Highway 97 from Highway 33 to Edwards Road and the reconfiguration of the Old Vernon/Sexsmith Intersection, a RapidBus Station may be constructed as well as part of the design.

Westbank Exchange

The new exchange will be built on Elliott Road with saw-toothed bays as part of a larger Westbank Town Centre revitalization. This will move the exchange off of the busy Highway 97 couplet and make way for a potential elimination of the couplet altogether through the Westbank Town Centre.

Boucherie Exchange

This exchange will replace Stevens Exchange and will be located in the vicinity of Bartley Road and Highway 97. More precisely, it will be located in the field next to the Super 8 on Westgate Road, and will include a Park n' Ride facility. Eastbound buses will pull in directly off the highway (similar to the RapidBus stations in Kelowna) and Westbound buses will route along Westgate Road to a similar RapidBus station. At implementation, the select few 97 Express trips along Ross and Cameron will likely stay on Highway 97 to make for routing reliability.

Queensway Exchange

When Queensway Exchange was built in 1998, underground utilities were installed for the construction of a future building on the transit island. The vision is to build a building down the middle which can include waiting areas, a security office, and perhaps a coffee shop. The new $5.6 million Queensway transit exchange opened on April 26, 2015, and includes an all-weather wood structure above the existing transit island platform.

Fares^[10]

Kelowna Regional Transit System is operated under a single zone system within the Regional District of Central Okanagan. A transfer slip is issued upon request, which allows unlimited travel on the system for up to 90 minutes from the time of fare payment.

Students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus have access to U-PASS program, while college students may purchase a Semester Pass for $176.00.

Patron	Adult	College Student	Student to Grade 12	Senior	handyDART
Cash	$2.50				$2.50
Tickets (10)	$22.50		$20.25		$25.00
DayPASS	$6.50				N/A
Monthly Pass	$70.00	$55.00	$45.00		$75.00
Note: Children 4 or under ride for free when accompanied by an adult customer, 19 or older.

References

1. Operating Company Contact Information
2. Central Okanagan i-go, Transit
3. Transit - City of Kelowna
4. BC Transit: Who We Are Today
5. busline.ca Routes and Schedules
6. Introducing RapidBus
7. RAPIDBUS SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS KELOWNA TRANSIT EXPANSION
8. http://www.transitbc.com/regions/ver/fares/
9. http://busonline.ca/regions/kel/transitplus/bike_and_ride.cfm
10. Fares

External links

• Kelowna Regional Transit System