Bowen Island Community Transit Ltd.
Bowen Island Community Transit Ltd. was a former contractor under Coast Mountain Bus Company and provider of peak-hour commuter bus service serving the BC municipalities of Vancouver and West Vancouver with a focus on commuters living on Bowen Island.
History
Bowen Island Community Transit was established by Peter King in 1999 as a private contractor under CMBC. They were responsible for running two Community Shuttle routes on Bowen Island until their contract expired in December 2016. In January 2017, operations and TransLink-owned assets, such as vehicles and other equipment, were transferred to First Transit, who were awarded the new contract for Bowen Island shuttle operations in November 2016.
In January 2015, Bowen Island Community Transit began operating the Bowen Island Express Bus as a temporary service at the behest of BC Ferries to compensate for the Bowen Queen's reduced vehicle capacity while the Queen of Capilano was in for refit. Due to unexpected demand, the service continued to operate after the Queen of Capilano was returned to service later that year.[1] The service originally operated with 30-foot transit buses, but increasing ridership and demand has resulted in vehicles being upgraded, initially to 40-foot transit buses, then 45-foot motorcoaches.
For a period of time, Bowen Island Community Transit operated a shuttle service for the Cypress Mountain Ski Area. However, operations were eventually returned to the service's original operator.
In late 2018, Bowen Island Community Transit joined the Bowen Transportation Society (BTS), a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the quality and variety of transportation services available to Bowen Islanders.[2]
As of June 2020, Bowen Island Community Transit no longer operates any services. Its last remaining service, the Bowen Island Express, is now operated by Cypress Coach Lines in partnership with the BTS.
Coast Mountain Bus Company contract
Routes
- Coast Mountain Bus Company route C10 'Bluewater / Snug Cove'
- Coast Mountain Bus Company route C11 'Eagle Cliff / Snug Cove'
Retired/Transferred Fleet
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C588 | 1996 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar III | Ford PowerStroke 7.3L | Ford 4R100 | Rollsign |
| |
S004 (1st) | 1996/1997 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar III | Ford PowerStroke 7.3L | Ford 4R100 | Rollsign |
| |
S003-S004 (2nd) | 2003 | Ford/Goshen | E-550/GC II 5500 | Ford PowerStroke 7.3L | Ford 4R100 | Luminator Horizon |
| |
S005 | 1993 | Ford/Overland | E-350/ELF | Ford 4R100 |
| |||
S017 | 2002 | Ford/CBB | E-550/Polar | Ford PowerStroke 7.3L | Ford 4R100 | Luminator Horizon |
| |
S302-S304 | 2008 | GMC/ElDorado | C5500/Aero Elite | GMC Duramax 6.6L | Allison 1000 | Luminator Horizon |
| |
S390, S391 S393 | 2012 | Chevrolet/ElDorado | G4500/Aerotech | Vortec 6.0L | GM 6L90-E with Telma retarder | Luminator Horizon |
|
Independent operations
Bowen Island Express
It is an east-west, peak-hour, fixed-route express bus service running between Horseshoe Bay and Downtown Vancouver. The Bowen Island Express generally follows the same route as CMBC route 257, deviating in its use of motorcoaches and bypassing of Park Royal, Marine Drive and 15 St, entering and exiting Highway 1 via Taylor Way. The service's current schedule is designed to align with that of Cormorant Marine's water taxi service.[3] This service is now operated by Cypress Coach Lines.
Charter service
Charter service was provided until all of the company's own vehicles were retired or placed into storage.
Cypress Mountain parking shuttle
This shuttle ran between the regular and overflow parking lots in the Cypress Mountain ski area. This shuttle was originally operated by Cypress Coach Lines and briefly taken over by Bowen Island Transit at an unknown point in time. As of December 2019, operation of this service has returned to Cypress Coach Lines.
Temporary TransLink service replacement
In light of TransLink's temporary suspension of Community Shuttle service on Bowen Island as part of service cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BTS announced a temporary on-island transport service intended to temporarily replace suspended TransLink services on May 3, 2020. The service commenced operations on May 4 with a single van rented from Cypress Coach Lines, following routing similar to that of the TransLink shuttle routes. The service is free but the van is equipped with a donation box, allowing riders to donate to the society. This service will cease to operate following the reinstatement of TransLink services on May 11.
Cypress Coach Lines Fleet
These units were leased from Cypress Coach Lines prior to their takeover of the Bowen Island Express's operation.
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(1) | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz W5A380 5 speed automatic | N/A |
| ||
532 | 2004/2005 | Prevost | LeMirage XL-II | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | N/A |
| ||
560 | 1995 | Prevost | H3-45 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 | N/A |
Retired/Stored Fleet
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(unnumbered) | 2006 | Blue Bird | Xcel 102 | Caterpillar C7 | Allison 5-speed | Rollsign |
Retired/Returned Fleet
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
520 | 2003 | Ford/Krystal | E-550/KK32 | Ford Power Stroke 7.3L | Ford 4R100 | Light box |
| |
2307 | 2003 | Orion | VII 07.501 | Cummins ISC | Allison B400R | Luminator MAX3000 |
| |
7026 | 1997 | New Flyer | D30LF | Detroit Diesel Series 40 | Allison B300R | Luminator |
| |
7617, (1) | 1997 | New Flyer | D30LF | Detroit Diesel Series 40 | Allison B300R | Luminator |
| |
8139 | 1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R5 | Luminator |
| |
(unnumbered) | 2001 | Thomas/Dennis | SLF 230 | Cummins ISB | Allison AT-545 | Unknown |
|
References
- ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-extends-bowen-island-bus-contract-1.3143057
- ↑ https://www.bowenislandundercurrent.com/community/new-society-driving-future-of-peter-king-s-express-bus-1.23871005
- ↑ https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/transportation
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1118997098126572/permalink/2228594657166805/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1118997098126572/permalink/2226961120663492/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1118997098126572/permalink/2643369799022620/