Learn more about potential new bus service in Okanagan

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is hosting public information sessions to learn more about the bus service that’s being proposed across the region.

Information sessions will take place on Wednesday at the RDOS office on Martin St. from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Village of Keremeos office from 2 to 4 p.m. and at the Town of Osoyoos office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A Penticton-Kelowna bus service connecting South Okanagan-Similkameen to Central Okanagan was identified as a top priority in the RDOS transit future plan.

In July, the board voted unanimously to begin the alternative approval process to obtain public assent for the new service.

“This link will be key to get people to and from Penticton to Kelowna hospital and the college,” said board chair Karla Kozakevich, also the RDOS director for Naramata, in July.

The RDOS has been working on expanding transit service for the entire area from Coalmont to Osoyoos, and originally estimated the Penticton-Kelowna buses would roll out in September 2019.

But, with Greyhound pulling out of Western Canada this Oct. 31, and the growing need to get people to Kelowna, the RDOS has accelerated the tentative timeline for its buses to as early as next spring.

The service from Penticton is planned to begin with two round trips each weekday — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — and it would tie into existing routes.

If approved, the new bus service would cost the average household between $1.33 and $4.11 annually, depending on community of residence.

If 10 per cent of the 65,160 eligible voters register disapproval, the RDOS will be forced to hold a full referendum or scrap the plan.

“BC Transit needs us to decide by Sept. 9 so they can budget for this, so we did speed up the process,” Kozakevich added.