Route 70 connecting Nanaimo with the Cowichan Valley started rolling out Monday morning. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

ROLLING

First buses roll on long-awaited Nanaimo to Cowichan transit link

Mar 28, 2022 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A much anticipated daily transit link between Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley is finally underway.

The first bus destined for Duncan left early Monday, March 28, marking the start of regular bus service between the downtown Nanaimo exchange near Port Place shopping centre and the Village Green Mall in Duncan.

Tyler Brown, RDN board chair, told NanaimoNewsNOW they are very excited to see this long-awaited project get rolling.

“It’s the first in a series of major transportation improvements connecting to the outside of our region but also improvements within the RDN system. It’s the first of what I hope is many new buses on the road.”

The Nanaimo-Cowichan Express, or NCX, is a 50-50 cost split between the RDN and Cowichan Valley Regional District.

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It effectively connects Vancouver Island residents from Qualicum to Victoria via public transportation.

Brown added the new route wasn’t easy to get going, with things infinitely more complicated when expanding projects outside of your own district compared to simply operating within your own municipality.

“The Regional District has been pushing for some time…around really needing the province to step in and help make us make these inter-regional connections easier.”

Brown said extra funding from the governments would also be nice.

The NCX line will stick primarily to Hwy. 1 and does not include a long-request stop at Duke Point ferry terminal.

Brown said with the upcoming elections this fall, any service adjustments for the route will be up to the newly elected board.

He said it is a priority, but they felt tying it into this latest connection or other long routes would be doing a disservice to the rider.

“But it’s identified, we’ve heard it loud and clear…in order for routes to be effective they have to have a certain element of coverage but they also have to be able to go at a certain level of frequency.“

He said they want to make sure it’s done right using their limited resources and working with their partners to ensure a successful connection.

Preliminary work is under weigh on a similar connection to the Comox Valley, and Brown said their staff can now switch focus to that project now that the Cowichan Valley route is open.

Movement on the northern connection is expected over the next five years.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow