B.C. Transit intends to expand its services in Greater Victoria in 2025 with improved service to the University of Victoria and downtown, and the return of a route connecting UVic with Swartz Bay ferry terminal.
The expansion is due to increased local and provincial funding, though B.C. Transit could not immediately say how much more funding it has received.
Starting Jan. 6, B.C. Transit will reinstate the 76 UVic/Swartz Bay route with an additional stop at Royal Oak Exchange.
Because of increased demand, improvements are being made to the following routes: 4 UVic/Downtown, 6 Royal Oak Exch/Downtown, 7 UVic/Downtown, 8 Interurban/Tillicum Centre/Oak Bay, 14 Vic General/UVic, 21 Interurban/Downtown, 26 UVic/Dockyard, 27 Gordon Head/Downtown, 28 Majestic/Downtown and 95 Langford/Downtown.
B.C. Transit service that had been reduced for the holidays will resume Jan. 6. To better align with school bell times, minor adjustments are being made to schedules for routes 25 Maplewood/Tillicum Centre, 49 Skirt Mountain/Langford Exchange and 83 Sidney/Brentwood/Royal Oak.
In Nanaimo, service will be added to routes across the system starting Jan. 5 with the addition of six heavy-duty buses.
The introduction of the new buses, as they become available, will mean some modifications and new names for some routes.
The 50 Woodgrove/Downtown will become the 1 Nanaimo Rapid Line, while the 1 Downtown/Country Club will become the 72 Downtown/Country Club.
Route 91 Intercity (Qualicum Beach/Woodgrove) will be renamed the 9 Intercity Line, which will have additional trips and improved connections to the Route 1 Nanaimo Rapid Line.
Route 11 Lantzville will become the 31 Lantzville. This route will extend further on Lantzville Road and serve the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation.
And in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, HandyDart will expand its service starting Jan. 5.
HandyDART service will now be available on Saturdays and an additional vehicle will be available for extra trips during weekday peak times.
