An additional 1,000 service hours are being added to two BC Transit bus lines to help improve connectivity between the Regional District of Nanaimo and surrounding communities. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

more transit hours

‘We established a local connection:’ extended hours aims to improve Nanaimo transit

Aug 22, 2024 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — Residents will soon have more public transportation options to get them where they need to across eastern Vancouver Island.

Starting Sept. 1, an additional 1,000 hours of service will be evenly split across two routes, the 70 Nanaimo-Cowichan Express (NCX) and the 99 Deep Bay route, which goes from Deep Bay north of Bowser to Qualicum Beach.

Senior manager of government relations with BC Transit Seth Wright said a recent survey conducted on regular transit riders last year showed people wanted improved connectivity between the Regional District of Nanaimo and neighbouring districts.

“There was a big desire for interregional connectivity between Comox Valley and Nanaimo so people could get from the north Island to the mid-Island to maybe onto Vancouver via transit. We established a local connection.”

Half of those additional hours will extend Friday and Saturday evening services on the NCX, with the other 500 hours allowing the Deep Bay route to run seven days a week.

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Changes also include the reintroduction of their school routes, including Vancouver Island University.

“We have school trips that are identified in the riders guide as special school trips that provide service to get folks to school that are starting again with the introduction of the school year,” said Wright. “They’re removed for the summer and now we’re putting them back in.”

Senior manager of transportation services with the Regional District of Nanaimo Darren Marshall said an additional 8,700 service hours will be added to a number of routes in January, including routes 50, 9, and 31-Latnzville.

This means Route 50 (Woodgrove/Downtown) will no longer be interlined with Route 7 (Cinnabar/Downtown) at all times during the day.

“The 50 being our rapid line that will see an increase in frequency and over the next few years if we’re provided the additional extension hours by BC Transit, we’ll keep enhancing that route to build a bonafide rapid line.”

More Route 20 (Hammond Bay/Dover Bay) trips will go through the Country Club bus exchange, with reduced connections at Brooks Landing to Route 1 (Country Club/Downtown).

Signage at bus stops and hubs will be updated once the new changes occur at the start of September.

More information can be found here at BC Transit’s website.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow