Is There Transit on Vancouver Island,
Outside of Greater Victoria ?

The transit partnership between BC Transit, local government and operating organizations serves every major community on the Island. About 180,000 people are served by the 6 regional transit systems. These systems serve local markets for travel, with intercity trips directed to private vehicles and other private carriers.

The Transit Partnership

Transit systems on Vancouver Island, outside of Greater Victoria, are a partnership between BC Transit, the municipality, and an operating organization. BC Transit and the municipality share the funding for transit (47% and 53% respectively). All revenue collected through operation of the transit system (e.g. fares, bus advertising) belongs to the municipality to help offset costs. The municipality also has responsibility for approving routes, schedules and fares. BC Transit provides the vehicles, planning, and operation advise to local government, and, financial services. An operating company is contracted to run the system except in the Regional District of Nanaimo where the Regional District is the operator.

Responding to Growth

Since 1986, Vancouver Island has seen tremendous rates of growth in virtually every municipality and Regional District. The population on the Island has grown some 20%, from 515,800 to about 620,000 in 1994. The southern sections of the Cowichan Valley have grown 34% while Nanaimo has increased in population by 28%.

Transit service has responded to this growth. BC Transit has worked with local government to improve and expand existing services and create new transit systems. Changes since 1986 include:

• New conventional and paratransit service in the Comox Valley;
• New transit system in Parksville and Qualicum Beach;
• New transit system in the Cowichan Valley,
• New handyDART system in Campbell River;
• Expansion in the Campbell River Transit System to include areas south of the District boundary;
• New private carrier connector service from Parksville/Qualicum Beach to Woodgrove Centre with Island Coach Lines
• Expanded frequency of service in the Nanaimo Regional District.

A feasibility study is underway to determine the potential for limited paratransit service in Mt. Waddington Regional District (Port Hardy/Port McNeil).

Existing Service

The present service can be measured by a number of statistics:

Transit System      No of Bus  Pop. Served Annual Rides  Annual Costs
Campbell River         6         25,300       343,600     $930,500
Courtenay/Comox        3         30,000       195,000     $655,000
Qualicum/Parksville    2         13,500       146,500     $265,000
Port Alberni           3         15,400       195,600     $760,000
Nanaimo               18         63,500     1,150,000   $3,550,000
Cowichan Valley        2         26,000        65,000     $391,000

Transit Friendly Land Use Guidelines

BC Transit has provided guidelines for producing a transit-friendly development pattern since 1980. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide advice to local governments on land use policy and design guidelines which support efficient and effective public transit. Sometimes referred to as Neo-traditional planning, the guidelines try to lay out a less automobile oriented development pattern. The newest brochure, Transit & Land Use Planning, is available from Mr. Steve New, Division Manager, Municipal Systems Program, BC Transit, 520 Gorge Rd. E., P.O. Box 610, Victoria, V8W 2P3, fax 384-5412.

Challenges for the future

For the future, the local transit systems will be faced with major challenges:

• Continued population growth;
• Changes to the Island Highway which will affect virtually every community on the East Coast of Vancouver Island;
• Location of the Nanaimo Ferry terminal;
• Defining the role of local transit and intercity bus travel;
• Responding to public demand for an increased role of transit and other alternatives to single occupancy vehicles.