Kelowna’s bus service may need to be increased by 5000 hours in the next 3 years in order to keep up with city growth.
“The population has changed, some areas have grown, there have been new areas that have been developed and there’s been more multi-family (homes added) in some areas,” explained Kelowna Transit Manager, Jerry Dombowski.
He says the 5000 hours would require the addition of 2-5 new buses in the fleet, but adds that it’s just an early estimation and more research needs to be gathered over the next year.
“How we can best serve riders’ needs, given that things have changed, people have aged, people have moved into new neighborhoods, family make-up is different. All of those things are important for making our riders happy.”
One way information will gathered is with the new real-time transit system, which is set to be up and running by the end of November. Automated passenger counters will also help collect data, along with a new fare system, which is a few years away.
Dombowski was also at Monday’s Council meeting when Transportation Engineer, Gordon Foy spoke about encouraging alternative travel methods to reduce Kelowna's traffic congestion. Dombowski agreed with Foy’s findings, “I think the message he had is that we’re not asking everyone to give up their car, but what we’re asking people to do is to change their habits so that they’re not 100% reliant on their cars, and therefore, we have a city that’s much more liveable.”
Another change is on the horizon that should benefit travelers. Construction of the new Rutland Transit Exchange, on Shepherd Road, is on schedule to finish and open in September.