BC Transit - Vernon Regional Transit System

[9924]

Nova buses 9272 and 9273 will be off to get some warranty issues dealt with (apparently something about body panels). 9272 is already on its way and as a result, we have 9249 on loan from Victoria.

Since Salmon Arm is operated by us, I might as well add this here ... apprently Salmon Arm may have the Yaxing bus for a few days on its evaluation tour throughout BC.

[MCW Metrobus]

Nova buses 9272 and 9273 will be off to get some warranty issues dealt with (apparently something about body panels). 9272 is already on its way and as a result, we have 9249 on loan from Victoria.

Since Salmon Arm is operated by us, I might as well add this here ... apprently Salmon Arm may have the Yaxing bus for a few days on its evaluation tour throughout BC.

Are you sure it's 9249, if it's already there? 9249 was parked at Watson and Ash in Comox yesterday, albeit without plates so I figured it was a recent movement. It had also been repainted into the new colours.

[9924]

Are you sure it's 9249, if it's already there? 9249 was parked at Watson and Ash in Comox yesterday, albeit without plates so I figured it was a recent movement. It had also been repainted into the new colours.

The "new" bus just arrived today ... but I'll double check tomorrow.

[MCW Metrobus]

It also just occurred to me that I didn't see 9279 or 9281 in Comox. Maybe you guys got one of those two. 9281 was one of the ones that's been hopping around all over the place, it was in Whistler during the Olympics and if it hasn't been sent your way I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it's probably in Kelowna. 9279 is supposed to have been in Comox all this time but I still couldn't find it.

[9924]

Took a look again today and it is indeed 9249 ... was in Comox on Tuesday and made her way up and arrived Wedneday morning. She was in the shop getting a service yesterday and is currently sitting in the Handydart yard and probably put onto the road next week.

[MCW Metrobus]

Interesting! It must have followed me down the Island Highway on Tuesday! I spotted it in the Comox yard around 12 noon that day, I headed south maybe an hour later and at some point during the day I received a call from "502 Surrey Ctrl Stn" who was at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and had spotted a new-scheme Nova coming off the ferry from Duke Point. I will need to check with him, but the call history on my phone suggests the bus came off the ferry that would have left Duke Point at 3:15, which makes for a plausible schedule for a transfer to Vernon.

The question still remains why the bus was in Comox in the first place. And the even bigger question for me is, where the bloody hell is 9279 now?! I can never find that bus!

[9924]

Interesting! It must have followed me down the Island Highway on Tuesday! I spotted it in the Comox yard around 12 noon that day, I headed south maybe an hour later and at some point during the day I received a call from "502 Surrey Ctrl Stn" who was at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and had spotted a new-scheme Nova coming off the ferry from Duke Point. I will need to check with him, but the call history on my phone suggests the bus came off the ferry that would have left Duke Point at 3:15, which makes for a plausible schedule for a transfer to Vernon.

The first time I saw it was around 920am on Wednesday morning. I didn't catch the number of it, but I was just driving by the HandyDart yard on my #7 run when I noticed it coming down the other road. At first, I just thought it was a mechanic doing a test drive on one of ours, but one was sitting in the HandyDart yard and it being just about 930am, the other one would have been downtown getting ready to head back to UBCO. So, on my lunchbreak, taking a closer look at the "Mystery Nova" in the shop was the first thing I did ...

The question still remains why the bus was in Comox in the first place. And the even bigger question for me is, where the bloody hell is 9279 now?! I can never find that bus!

No idea why it was in Comox before, but who knows, maybe a possible replacement for C619 for us ...

[9924]

Both 9272 and 9273 have had their warranty work done and are back from Vancouver and 9249 left yesterday morning at 10:00 on its way, I'm assuming back home. Travelling south on Hwy 97 from Vernon.

Also, it looks like there very well may be an expansion for us this year ...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similk...s/93469519.html

... on top of the the UBC run, HandyDart and conventional looks like will benefit from some extra hours.

[9924]

I got a glimpse of the upcoming expansion today ... I don't want to post anything yet, but once everything is written in stone you'll hear it from me first

[9924]

From todays paper ...

It may become easier to get a bus in Vernon.

City staff will work out details with B.C. Transit to provide additional operating hours for both the conventional transit service and handyDart.

“In our official community plan process, we heard loud and clear that transit as alternate transportation is something we should be carrying out,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.

“Buses on some routes are over-subscribed and we need to address it.”

With B.C. Transit funding in place, the goal is to put an extra handyDart bus on the road and increase service hours by 1,500 a year.

There would be an extra 1,800 hours for conventional buses.

“This means we can expand the hours — additional hours in the morning or evening,” said Amanda Watson, municipal transportation technician.

Local funding of $40,000 for the expanded handyDart service will be required ($30,000 from Vernon and $10,000 from Coldstream). The local cost for the conventional bus service will be $160,00, with Coldstream paying $15,000 for an additional run.

Beyond this, the city is asking the North Okanagan Regional District to enter into an agreement with B.C. Transit to put an additional bus on the route to the University of B.C. campus in Kelowna.

The cost of operating a second bus for all local jurisdictions, including NORD and the Central Okanagan Regional District, is about $156,000 a year.

B.C. Transit has asked the City of Vernon to take over administration of the UBC route as a way of expediting decision-making.

“It takes so long to get anything done at NORD,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy.

“They act like we never talked about this (extra bus) but we talked about it at three or four meetings.”

Coun. Bob Spiers, though, believes that shifting administration could be a form of downloading on to Vernon residents.

“If we keep taking over regional functions, taxpayers get screwed,” he said.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similk...s/95151014.html

.... I love the comments about NORD seeing that the City has been acting like that for years themselves ...

[9924]

Everything seems to be a go now ...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similk...s/97439764.html

... we shoud be getting the third Nova in the next few weeks.

The UBCO run will be hourly service in both directions with the exeption of between 11am and 3pm where there will be no runs down to Kelowna. The Nova's will be used between 11am and 3pm on in-city runs, specificaly the #3 and #6 and will help with the increasing ridership and full buses, especially the #3. The next #90 leaves again at 3pm followed by 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm with the last trip returning to Vernon just after 830pm. The most exciting thing about the updated service is that we will also be stopping off at YLW terminal on the way back so it'll give flying passengers one hell of a cheap way to get to the airport ... $2.50 one way vs. $27.00 one way for the Vernon Airporter. It will remain Monday-Friday service only, but at least its better than nothing.

Other expansions will include a new HandyDart Polar to increase service for that sector. As well as the conventional side seeing some changes such as buses leaving a bit earlier in the morning to meet the 700am UBCO bus as well as some runs will see later service by about an hour (until 630pm). Our 10 minute coffee break at 400pm will be removed to streamline the timetable and keep all the runs at the same time through out the day. Sunday service will stay at 2 buses (4 runs) but will increase by about 2 hours.

Again, a very small expansion, but its better than nothing.

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

C619 still going to be alive? I know you mentioned it might be replaced soon.

Chris Cassidy

[9924]

C619 still going to be alive? I know you mentioned it might be replaced soon.

Chris Cassidy

C619 is sitll alive, spending a lot of time in the shop though, and having the spare Nova fill in on the Vernon - Armstrong - Enderby run. There is no replacement for her this time around, but the first morning run from Enderby - Armstrong - Vernon has been done with a Nova for the last two years and will continue to do so with a small change, being that currently, the Nova comes in from Enderby/Armstrong and then continues on to Kelowna at 715. With the new schedule, the first UBCO will be leaving from Vernon at 700 with the new Nova, the Nova from Enderby/Armstrong will still arrive in Vernon at 712 but will then do a #1 Coldstream run before continuing on to UBCO for the 800 run.

And just a sidenote, but we actually used a Nova on the Vernon - Lavington - Lumby run one afternoon (which is a Ford Polar run) as there were no Polars available ... must have been quite a site to have seen a 40ft bus go down Learmouth and Whitevale Roads ...

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

Well I've confirmed my Vernon trip! I'll be staying in Vernon with another transit fan on August 8-10, with the main objective to shoot and ride as many buses as we legally can Monday we're doing Kelowna, and Tuesday will mostly be focused on Vernon.

Questions for any Vernon locals.

1) Any scenic routes around town that we should try to ride?

2) Whats the Vernon fleet looking like right now?

3) Good spots for bus spotting?

Thanks!

Chris Cassidy

[CV92]

Not a Vernon suggestion, but may I suggest you take the Crowsnest on your way back and make a stop in Penticton (not on Sunday, only one bus runs from 9-7) ...they are right now replacing the '92-'93 D40LFs with T-Drives if you are interested

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

Not a Vernon suggestion, but may I suggest you take the Crowsnest on your way back and make a stop in Penticton (not on Sunday, only one bus runs from 9-7) ...they are right now replacing the '92-'93 D40LFs with T-Drives if you are interested

We'll be stopping in there on the Sunday actually bit since there's only one bus we might go another day as well.

[CV92]

Cool...drop me a message when you're in the valley if you've got the time

[9924]

I've been having internet problems lately, so sorry if I'm in and out of the site.

Nova 9276 arrived yesterday and will be used on the UBCO expansion starting next month. 2 new HandyDart (low floors) are to be arriving in the next few weeks as well.

Well I've confirmed my Vernon trip! I'll be staying in Vernon with another transit fan on August 8-10, with the main objective to shoot and ride as many buses as we legally can Monday we're doing Kelowna, and Tuesday will mostly be focused on Vernon.

Questions for any Vernon locals.

1) Any scenic routes around town that we should try to ride?

2) Whats the Vernon fleet looking like right now?

3) Good spots for bus spotting?

Thanks!

Chris Cassidy

1) The Armstrong/Enderby route is quite nice, a bit long, about 2 hours roundtrip. For just a short intown trip, the #7 via Bella Vista (leaving downtown half past the hour) is quite scenic as it goes along Bella Vista Road to Kin Beach with a nice view of the valley and Okanagan Lake. #1 Coldstream is quite nice too, it offers a nice view of the Coldstream Valley along Sarsons Road. The #6 College offers a nice but brief view of Kal Lake.

2) Still the 8 Dennis Darts, C619 and Ford Polar HandyDarts, as mentioned above, we do now have 3 Nova's but until September, only 1 is scheduled to be on the road (#90). Currently they're being parked in two lots (24th Ave and 43rd St) both accesible with the #5 South Vernon bus. The new lot also has the #7 drive by.

3) The downtown terminus is the only place you'll see all the buses in one place. There's an old railway tressel that crosses Kal Lake Rd on the #1 Coldstream that we drive under, it would make a nice shot, but we only go down there once an hour so you'll have to be quick .

I'll be working on the 10th, so make sure you say hi

Just be warned though, right now with the construction we're dealing with alot of us are very grumpy

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

I've been having internet problems lately, so sorry if I'm in and out of the site.

Nova 9276 arrived yesterday and will be used on the UBCO expansion starting next month. 2 new HandyDart (low floors) are to be arriving in the next few weeks as well.

1) The Armstrong/Enderby route is quite nice, a bit long, about 2 hours roundtrip. For just a short intown trip, the #7 via Bella Vista (leaving downtown half past the hour) is quite scenic as it goes along Bella Vista Road to Kin Beach with a nice view of the valley and Okanagan Lake. #1 Coldstream is quite nice too, it offers a nice view of the Coldstream Valley along Sarsons Road. The #6 College offers a nice but brief view of Kal Lake.

2) Still the 8 Dennis Darts, C619 and Ford Polar HandyDarts, as mentioned above, we do now have 3 Nova's but until September, only 1 is scheduled to be on the road (#90). Currently they're being parked in two lots (24th Ave and 43rd St) both accesible with the #5 South Vernon bus. The new lot also has the #7 drive by.

3) The downtown terminus is the only place you'll see all the buses in one place. There's an old railway tressel that crosses Kal Lake Rd on the #1 Coldstream that we drive under, it would make a nice shot, but we only go down there once an hour so you'll have to be quick .

I'll be working on the 10th, so make sure you say hi

Just be warned though, right now with the construction we're dealing with alot of us are very grumpy

Thanks for the info! Any more info on those low floor handydarts?

Any idea what time you'll be driving at? We'll have to come for a ride for sure!

Chris Cassidy

[9924]

Thanks for the info! Any more info on those low floor handydarts?

Any idea what time you'll be driving at? We'll have to come for a ride for sure!

Chris Cassidy

Sorry, my internet is still giving me grief so I'm on and off the web ... grrrr

I PMed you my schedule for Tuesday, hopefully you'll get it before lol.

As far as the low floor HD's, no new info yet unfortunatly.

[9924]

An intersting little read from our local paper ...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similk.../100160829.html

... wasn't me but its nice to see that the pressure is being put on the politicians.

Other news is we are having a new downtown terminus built back at the 31st Avenue (where we were before) location in the next couple of years ... hopefully they'll put alot of thought into this one instead of just making us park on the side of the street. Once that is in use, there will be some major route changes and hopefully a decent expansion to get us off the loop system we're currently using.

As for the current expansion, although there is no info on the website, all looks good and will come into effect in the second week of September.

[9924]

HandyDart 2312 arrived Wednesday. Arboc body on a Chevy 4500 and its ugly as hell . There is a bike rack installed but it will be removed as it and the other one due to arrive will only be used for HandyDart services due to the low seating capacities which aren't enough for any other runs. However, 9272 (?) broke down on its way from Enderby yesterday morning and 2312 just happened to be on its way back from Kamloops (training) so the 9272 passengers got a lift in the new HandyDart to downtown.

[323 Surrey Ctrl Stn]

HandyDart 2312 arrived Wednesday. Arboc body on a Chevy 4500 and its ugly as hell . There is a bike rack installed but it will be removed as it and the other one due to arrive will only be used for HandyDart services due to the low seating capacities which aren't enough for any other runs. However, 9272 (?) broke down on its way from Enderby yesterday morning and 2312 just happened to be on its way back from Kamloops (training) so the 9272 passengers got a lift in the new HandyDart to downtown.

I think they looks cool

Chris Cassidy

[9924]

I think they looks cool

Chris Cassidy

Compared to a Dart maybe

[9924]

Our second but smaller Chevy Arboc HandyDart bus arrived this past week (have to double check the unit number) as well as Dennis Dart 9923 has joined the fleet on Thursday (still unplated). I'm not sure if one of our existing buses is on its way out or if its being used as a third spare but I will try to find out when I'm back next week.

2 weeks into the expansion that saw the 90 North Okanagan Connector run double its Monday to Friday schedule from 4 to 8 runs per day looks very promising and ridership is climbing even more than was anticipated.

On a personal note ... I'm enjoying moving up to driving the Nova out on the highway ... nice change of scenery