The Regional District of Nanaimo has secured 15 new handyDART buses to hit area roads in mid June. (BC Transit)

By Ian Holmes

transit investment

RDN replacing handyDART buses to improve customer accessibility

May 28, 2020 | 12:16 PM

NANAIMO — Vastly improved service for public transit riders with physical disabilities is coming to mid Vancouver Island.

Daniel Pearce the RDN’s director of transportation services told NanaimoNewsNOW the 15 new, 2020 model light-duty buses will replace most of their old handyDART fleet over the next several months.

He said key new features include a rear hoist lift, as opposed to a less functional front ramp, to accomodate riders in wheelchairs and scooters.

“A lot of systems across Canada and North America have moved to this style of bus. The bus is also using gasoline rather than diesel, so it’s going to be a quieter ride, diesel can be quite loud sometimes.”

Pearce said three of their current handyDART buses will remain in the system, while the dozen others will be re-assigned to other transit systems around the province.

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He said while handyDART demand on the mid island has predictably dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pearce said it’s a popular, vital service.

“We do have an aging population not only our region but in Canada and we have definitely seen an increase in demand for handyDART, we do anticipate that to continue to grow.”

Pearce said the RDN is covering 33 per cent of the costs for the new 26-foot long buses, each of which cost $176,000.

The RDN’s handyDART service provides tailored door-to-door service for customers with accessibility challenges between Cedar and Bowser.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes