Fraser Valley – Five new BC Transit Vicinity buses are coming to the Central Fraser Valley.
“Our government is committed to investing in transit – it makes services accessible and life more affordable for British Columbians,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We anticipate the inclusion of CCTV cameras on these buses will improve the safety of everyone on board.”
The new buses are made by Grande West Transportation International Ltd., based in Aldergrove. The 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.
Each Vicinity bus can seat 30 passengers with room for another 24 standees. 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.
“The City of Abbotsford is excited to see these five new medium duty buses replacing the older fleet in our community,” said Mayor Henry Braun. “Our city is growing, and the needs of our community are changing. Ensuring we have the right sized buses for our community, along with a fleet that has better performance, enhanced safety features and improved mobility access will ensure our residents travel more efficiently and safely throughout our city.”
Each bus will cost approximately $347,000, and is funded by the Province of BC, the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission 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. Details about the CCTV camera program can be found at bctransit.com.
The five new vehicles will replace older vehicles in the fleet. 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, Nova, ElDorado and ARBOC.
More details about the Central Fraser Valley transit system can be found at bctransit.com/central-fraser-valley.
