BC Transit Update Presentation

Presentation Overview

Objectives:

• Provide an overview of BC Transit and an update on implementation activities to advance the RapidBus Implementation Strategy

Overview:

• Planning Overview
• RapidBus Initiatives
• BC Transit Initiatives
• Questions

Transit Future Plan

BC Transit developed a 25-year transit plan for the region, which included development of the Transit Future Network

The Transit Future Network uses four layers of transit service:

• Rapid Transit
• Frequent Transit
• Local Transit
• Targeted Services

West Shore Transit Network Restructure

• West Shore service changes implemented January 8, 2024
  • intended to make public transit to and from key locations in the West Shore faster and easier
  • better align service with rapidly increasing development and customer demands,
  • improve integration with the 95 Blink RapidBus.
• Changes were included in public engagement as part of the 2022 West Shore Local Area Transit Plan

Future Service Expansion

Approved by the VRTC in 2023/24:

• 2024/25: 20,000 hours, 8 buses
• 2025/26: 30,000 hours, 12 buses
• 2026/27: 40,000 hours, 16 buses
  • Subject to Provincial funding (confirmed annually on Budget Day)

Key strategic service investments priorities:

• RapidBus and Frequent Transit Network service improvements
• Development of the crosstown network on the Hillside/Gorge and Admirals/McKenzie (Route 40) corridors
• Simplifying and improving transit service on the Quadra corridor
• Improvements to YYJ Airport and Peninsula service

Top priorities for 2024/25: McKenzie RapidBus and Route 40 Dockyard/UVic

Island Highway – West Shore RapidBus Improvements

Island Highway Priority Project

• Supports the West Shore Rapid Bus Strategy.
• Transit priority improvements for Island Highway at the intersections of Island Highway and 6 Mile Road in View Royal and Island Highway and Wale Road in Colwood
• ICIP funding for $14.9M budget and the local share is funded by the VRTC.
• Tendering construction soon for View Royal portion
  • Targeting in-service in 2025.

BC Transit Bus Shelter Program

• BC Transit's Program which assists local governments in acquiring a suite of transit shelters
• The program provides local governments with access to capital funding with 80% joint funding between the Federal and Provincial funding
  • The VRTC pays the local 20%
• Local governments are responsible for prepping the site for installation and on-going site maintenance
• Application for 2024/25 bus shelter received from View Royal

VRTS handyDART Facility (View Royal)

• Construction underway
  • Main building taking shape with steel structure being constructed
  • Upcoming work includes installation of more than 16km of conduit to accommodate the future BEBs
• Interested in updates? Sign up for project newsletter at VictoriaHandyDARTProject@BCTransit.Com

Electronic Fare Collection System (Umo)

• Launched in the Victoria Regional Transit System in August 2023
  • Replace end-of-life and costly fare tech on conventional transit services
  • Increase access to taking transit more often for more riders
• Introduced two new convenient payment methods – mobile app and reloadable card.
• Introduced new and improved fare products – Cash balance, 30-Day Pass, digital DayPASS, digital U-PASS, digital ProPASS
• Since launch:
  • Adoption rates continue to increase each week
  • Mobile app rider’s preferred payment method
  • Expanded to 12 other transit systems, improving interregional travel.
• Future plans:
  • Enable credit debit card payments

VRTS Fare Review

• Fare review now complete in the VRTS
  • Provide options that improve cost recovery while also ensuring fares are affordable, in line with similarly sized transit systems, and aligned with BC Transit’s recommended Fare Guidelines
  • Public engagement in November – December 2023
  • Possible fare change summer 2024 and 2025
• Final report will go to VRTC in March 2024 for approval
  • Letter from View Royal re: Free/Discountred Transit for Youth included on agenda

NextRide

• Allows riders to see the real-time location of their bus and its predicted arrival time at an identified stop
• NextRide data assists with schedule reliability, managing on-road incidents more effectively and customer communications
• NextRide refresh started in January
  • help provide increased certainty, convenience and predictability for transit customers
  • new digital full-colour passenger information displays inside all heavy-duty buses & high-capacity buses

Low Carbon Fleet Program

Provincial carbon emission reductions targets:

• 16% by 2025
• 40% by 2030
• 60% by 2040
• 80% by 2050

BC Transit has committed to transition to a fully electric fleet by 2040

Low Carbon Fleet Program - VRTS

• The electric demonstration bus is moving into the next phase of testing and is running longer routes that start early in the morning and extend into evening hours.
• Ten plug-in charging points and BC Transit’s first overhead pantograph charger are now installed at the Victoria Transit Centre. The demonstration bus is helping to commission the charging systems.
• Multiple procurements are underway for battery electric buses, charging equipment and electrification support systems.

Questions?

Chelsea Mossey – Senior Manager, Government Relations CMossey@bctransit.com

James Wadsworth – Manager, Infrastructure Planning JWadsworth@bctransit.com