BC Transit expands service between Nelson and Castlegar
By Nelson Daily Editor
After all of the cuts to bus service in Nelson, finally a bit of good news.
A new bus service will be provided to Blewett starting Monday, Nov. 14. The new route — 24 Nelson-Blewett — will make three return trips a day and will be monitored for customer use for a period of six months.
The first morning trip leaving Nelson for Blewett and the final afternoon trip leaving Blewett for Nelson will route via Highway 6 to better serve workers at Pacific Insight.
“Cooperation and input at the local level is key to providing transit users with service that they need,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom. “The system operates best when we listen to the community.”
The transit service into Blewett has been a long time in the making, said Ramona Faust, regional district Area E director.
“This six-month trial service to Blewett will demonstrate the need for service and help to refine times and equipment that will best service the route,” she said.
Also being introduced on Monday, a new evening trip on the 99 Nelson-Castlegar will meet the connector leaving Trail, and be of benefit to students and workers.
The last trip from Nelson to Castlegar now leaves Ward at Baker at 4:55 p.m. and the last trip from Castlegar to Nelson now leaves Selkirk College at 5:45 p.m. Strong ridership aboard the 99 and community feedback has proven the demand for this expanded service.
“These service expansions and improvements will support the growing demands of our customers in the Central Kootenay,” said BC Transit president and CEO Manuel Achadinha.
Other minor service changes can be found on board in the new Rider’s Guide or at www.bctransit.com.
Funding for the Central Kootenay Transit System is cost shared between the Regional District of Central Kootenay and BC Transit.
Decisions about fares, routes and service levels are made by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
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