Chilliwack/Hope/Agassiz – Starting September 5, it will be easier for transit users in Chilliwack to get around, thanks to an expansion to transit service in the community.
This expansion is possible due to the addition of 4,800 new service hours, funded by the Province of B.C. and the City of Chilliwack.
Service changes will include the introduction of a new route, 9 Industrial, and the addition of weekday service to route 5 Yarrow/Greendale.
Other improvements include service expansion during peak times on routes 1 Vedder and 3 Chilliwack, and extending route 8 Tyson to Lindys Drive.
To supplement all these changes, as of September 3, route 66 Fraser Valley Express (FVX) will start offering Sunday and holiday service, connecting the Chilliwack and Central Fraser Valley transit systems to Metro Vancouver.
For more information, service updates and alerts in Chilliwack, including details on service expansion to the FVX, please visit bctransit.com/chilliwack.
New Buses For Chilliwack
The new buses are made by Grande West Transportation International Ltd., based in Aldergrove, B.C. The 30-foot and 35-foot medium duty buses will help better meet the transit needs of the communities they serve as they perform better and have more safety features than the current fleet of buses.
The 30-foot Vicinity bus can seat 24 passengers with room for another 20 standees. Each of the 35-foot Vicinity buses can seat 30 passengers with room for another 24 standees. In both models, there is also space for two mobility aids. The new buses are equipped with two doors for more efficient operation and easier access on and off the bus by customers.
Each 30-foot bus will cost approximately $319,000, and each 35-foot bus will cost approximately $347,000. The buses are funded by the Province of BC and the local government through BC Transit’s local government lease fee program.
The new buses will also have active closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to improve the safety of our customers and drivers. Cameras have been installed on buses in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Whistler, Dawson Creek, Quesnel, Penticton, Nelson, Vernon, and Victoria. Details about the CCTV camera program can be found at bctransit.com.
The introduction of these three new vehicles will support system expansion. It is part of a larger province-wide refresh and expansion program, with over 100 buses arriving in communities across British Columbia over the next two-years from Grande West, New Flyer and ARBOC.
Hope Transit
Residents in the District of Hope have another transportation option with the introduction of transit services starting Tuesday, September 5. The route 22 Hope service will connect Hope to the already growing transit system in the Agassiz and Chilliwack area.
The new service will operate from Monday to Saturday and have four round trips each day. The Trip Planner (information available at the end of the release) and schedule are available at bctransit.com/hope.
A single trip costs $2.50, or a DayPASS is available for $5. Passengers can also purchase a sheet of 10 tickets for $22.50, or a monthly pass for $44 (adults) or $35 (students/seniors).
“This new service will be well used by the citizens of Hope and surrounding area,” said District of Hope Mayor Wilfried Vicktor. “It recognizes the key role Hope plays at the eastern edge of the Fraser Valley and this service will be adjusted over time to meet changing needs.”
To provide the service in the District of Hope, two new 30-foot BC Transit Vicinity buses have arrived in the community. The new buses are made by Grande West Transportation International Ltd., based in Aldergrove, B.C.
Each Vicinity bus can seat 24 passengers, with standing room for another 20 people. There is also space for two mobility aids. The buses are equipped with two doors for more efficient operation and easier access on and off the bus.
The new buses also have active closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to improve the safety of our customers and drivers. Cameras have been installed on buses in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Whistler, Dawson Creek, Quesnel, Penticton, Nelson, Vernon, and Victoria. Details about the CCTV camera program can be found at bctransit.com.
The routing and accompanying schedule was informed by public feedback collected for the Chilliwack Area Transit Future Plan, and by additional open houses and online surveys undertaken over the past year.
For more information, please visit bctransit.com/hope or call 604-795-3838.
