Kelowna Regional Transit
Encyclopedia
Kelowna Regional Transit System is operated by FirstCanada, providing public bus transportation services in part of the central Okanagan Valley of British Columbia
, Canada
.
Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna
, Central Okanagan Regional District, District of Lake Country
and BC Transit
.
Kelowna Regional Transit was one of the first public transit system in Canada to have double-decker buses, and the first in Canada to have hybrid buses on regular routes.
service called RapidBus, connecting between Downtown Queensway Exchange and UBC
Okanagan Exchange. Also, there is one route operated by Vernon Regional Transit
within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area.
97x RapidBus connects downtown Kelowna and UBC Okanagan via HOV lanes on Highway 97 with traffic signal priority with the following limited stops:
Unenclosed bus shelters are installed at all stops on Highway 97. An enclosed weatherproof shelter with on-demand heaters is installed at UBC Okanagan Exchange.
All RapidBus stops on Highway 97 are raised to match with the height of the bus floors, allowing wheelchair users to enter or exit the bus without using the ramp. Stops are designed to minimize the gap between the bus and the curb. Only Nova Buses
are compatible with this set-up since double deckers
and New Flyers
are low-floor and will not be used for liability and practicality purposes. Smooth FRP
plank is attached to the curve, allowing buses to contact the curb without damaging or scratching the vehicle. Tactile pavings
are installed at all raised stops on Highway 97.
. This route is operated by Vernon Regional Transit
, but Kelowna Regional Transit System fare applies for travel within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area. Kelowna Regional Transit passes and transfers are also valid between UBC Okanagan and Oyama.
is a dial-a-ride service for people with a disability that is sufficiently severe that they are unable to use regular transit buses without assistance. Clients must be pre-registered to make use of this service.
, capable of holding two bikes at a time. Carriers cannot hold tandem
or motor-powered bikes. Also, the length of handle bars must be shorter than 69 cm. Bicycles are not allowed on community shuttles before dawn or after sunset, because they would block the headlights.
Students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus have access to U-PASS
program.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Funding for the transit system is shared between the City of Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, Central Okanagan Regional District, District of Lake Country
Lake Country, British Columbia
Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,...
and BC Transit
BC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
.
Kelowna Regional Transit was one of the first public transit system in Canada to have double-decker buses, and the first in Canada to have hybrid buses on regular routes.
Bus routes
There are 23 regularly scheduled routes and a BRTBus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
service called RapidBus, connecting between Downtown Queensway Exchange and UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
Okanagan Exchange. Also, there is one route operated by Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit System provides bus service to destinations in Vernon, Coldstream and North Okanagan area of British Columbia, using fully accessible low floor transit buses....
within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area.
No. | Name | Area | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lakeshore Mission/Downtown |
Kelowna Kelowna Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"... |
Downtown Queensway, Pandosy, Okanagan College Okanagan College Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada... , Lakeshore → Lexington → Gordon → McLure → Lakeshore |
|
2 | North End Shuttle | Kelowna | Downtown Queensway → Ellis → Cambridge → Richter → Downtown Queensway | |
3 | Dilworth Mt. | Kelowna | Orchard Park Orchard Park Orchard Park may refer to:In Canada:*Royal Orchard Park in Markham, Ontario*Orchard Park Shopping Centre in Kelowna, British ColumbiaIn the United Kingdom:*Orchard Park, Cambridgeshire... → Dilworth → Summit → High → Glenmore → Yates → Summit → Orchard Park |
Community Shuttle Route |
4 | Express Pandosy/UBCO |
Kelowna | Mission Town Centre, K.L.O., Benvoulin, Orchard Park, UBC University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley... Okanagan |
|
6 | Glenmore to UBCO Downtown/UBCO |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Cross, Snowsell, Union, Valley, Sexsmith, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan | |
7 | Glenmore Downtown/Orchard Park |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Cawston, Graham, Clement, Clifton, High, Glenmore, Orchard Park | Limited Service to Scenic |
8 | University OC/UBCO |
Kelowna | Okanagan College, Springfield, Orchard Park, Baron, Highway 33, Rutland, UBC Okanagan | |
9 | Shopper Shuttle Downtown/Rutland |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Parkinson, Orchard Park → Baron → Banks → Enterprise → Orchard Park | |
10 | North Rutland Downtown/Rutland |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Bernard, Orchard Park, Enterprise, Highway 33, Rutland, Fitzpatrick | |
11 | Rutland Downtown/Rutland |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Orchard Park, Springfield, Hollywood, McCurdy | |
12 | McCulloch Gallaghers/OC |
Kelowna | Mission Town Centre, K.L.O., McCulloch | Service to Orchard Park on Sunday Only |
14 | Black Mountain Rutland/Black Mountain |
Kelowna | Rutland, Highway 33, Loseth, Begley | Community Shuttle Route |
15 | Crawford | Kelowna | Dehart → Crawford → Parkridge → Dehart | Community Shuttle Route |
16 | Southwest Mission | Kelowna | Dehart → Chute Lake → South Crest → Arbor View → Dehart | Community Shuttle Route |
20 | Lakeview Westbank/Downtown |
West Kelowna | Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Westbank Exchange | |
21 | Glenrosa Downtown/Glenrosa |
West Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Stevens, Highway 97, Glenrosa, Webber, Blue Jay | |
22 | Peachland | Peachland Peachland, British Columbia Peachland is a district municipality of approximately 5000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people... |
Westbank Exchange, Highway 97, Beach, Princeton, Pine Hills | |
23 | Lake Country | Lake Country Lake Country, British Columbia Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,... |
UBC Okanagan, (Airport Kelowna International Airport Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, on Highway 97.... ), Winfield Winfield, British Columbia Winfield is an urban area that is currently part of the District Municipality of Lake Country, British Columbia, located north of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The community is situated north and slightly east of Kelowna, along Highway 97, located in the central Okanagan Valley. The town is... , Lake Country Lake Country, British Columbia Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,... |
Limited Service to Kelowna International Airport |
8/23 | Lake Country via UBCO | Lake Country | Okanagan College, UBC Okanagan, Lake Country | Combined service (Route 8 and 23) |
24 | Shannon Lake Stevens Exch/West Bank |
West Kelowna | Stevens Exchange, Boucherie, Old Okanagan Highway, Shannon, Westbank Exchange | |
25 | East Boundary Stevens Exch/West Bank |
West Kelowna | Stevens Exchange, East Boundary, Butt, Westbank Exchange | Community Shuttle Route |
27 | Horizon | West Kelowna | Stevens Exchange → Horizon → Boucherie → Stevens Exchange | Community Shuttle Route |
28 | Smith Creek | West Kelowna | Westbank Exchange → Smith Creek → Elliot → Westbank Exchange | Community Shuttle Route |
29 | Bear Creek | West Kelowna | Stevens Exchange → Westlake → Bear Creek → Stevens Exchange | Community Shuttle Route |
88 | School Special | Kelowna | September to June; Schooldays only. | |
90 | North Okanagan Connector UBCO/Vernon |
Vernon Vernon, British Columbia Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while... |
UBC Okanagan, Airport Kelowna International Airport Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, on Highway 97.... , Winfield, Lake Country, Oyama, Regional Fare Zone Boundary, Vernon |
Interregional express route operated by Vernon Regional. Kelowna Regional fare applies for travel within Kelowna fare zone boundary. |
97X | RapidBus UBCO/Downtown |
Kelowna | Downtown Queensway, Highway 97, UBC Okanagan | Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling... service |
RapidBus
RapidBus is rapid bus transit operated by Kelowna Regional Transit System. RapidBus is currently planned to expand its service to West Kelowna. New RapidBus stops are planned to be constructed at Gordon, Richter, and Edwards. Long-term plans detail expanding service to West Kelowna but they are postponed indefinitely until funding becomes available. Digital screens with real-time schedule information are planned to be installed at all stops.97x RapidBus connects downtown Kelowna and UBC Okanagan via HOV lanes on Highway 97 with traffic signal priority with the following limited stops:
- Queensway Exchange (Downtown Kelowna)
- Parkinson (Recreation Centre)
- Cooper (Orchard Park)
- Banks
- McCurdy
- UBC Okanagan Exchange
Unenclosed bus shelters are installed at all stops on Highway 97. An enclosed weatherproof shelter with on-demand heaters is installed at UBC Okanagan Exchange.
All RapidBus stops on Highway 97 are raised to match with the height of the bus floors, allowing wheelchair users to enter or exit the bus without using the ramp. Stops are designed to minimize the gap between the bus and the curb. Only Nova Buses
Nova Bus
Nova Bus is a Canadian bus manufacturer in North America, owned by Volvo Buses, and headquartered in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada.- History :The factory was originally a General Motors plant for building city transit buses intended for the Canadian market...
are compatible with this set-up since double deckers
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
and New Flyers
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
are low-floor and will not be used for liability and practicality purposes. Smooth FRP
Fibre-reinforced plastic
Fibre-reinforced plastic is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually fibreglass, carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic...
plank is attached to the curve, allowing buses to contact the curb without damaging or scratching the vehicle. Tactile pavings
Tactile paving
Tactile paving is a system of textured ground surface indicators found on many footpaths, stairs and train station platforms to assist blind and vision impaired pedestrians.Tactile warnings provide a distinctive surface pattern of "truncated domes" or cones...
are installed at all raised stops on Highway 97.
North Okanagan Connector
90 North Okanagan Connector is an interregional route connecting UBC Okanagan and downtown VernonVernon
-USA:*Vernon, Alabama*Vernon, California*Lake Vernon, California*Vernon, Colorado*Vernon, Connecticut*Vernon, Florida*Vernon, Illinois*Vernon, Indiana*Vernon Parish, Louisiana*Vernon, Michigan...
. This route is operated by Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit
Vernon Regional Transit System provides bus service to destinations in Vernon, Coldstream and North Okanagan area of British Columbia, using fully accessible low floor transit buses....
, but Kelowna Regional Transit System fare applies for travel within Kelowna Regional Transit's operational area. Kelowna Regional Transit passes and transfers are also valid between UBC Okanagan and Oyama.
Paratransit
HandyDARTHandyDART
HandyDART is an accessible transit service in British Columbia that uses vans or small buses to transport disabled or elderly passengers who cannot use the normal transit system...
is a dial-a-ride service for people with a disability that is sufficiently severe that they are unable to use regular transit buses without assistance. Clients must be pre-registered to make use of this service.
Bicycle carriers
All buses are equipped with bicycle carriersBicycle carrier
A bicycle carrier, also commonly called a bike rack, is a device attached to an automobile or bus for transporting bicycles.- By vehicle type :Bus mounted bike carriers are usually attached to the front of the bus...
, capable of holding two bikes at a time. Carriers cannot hold tandem
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
or motor-powered bikes. Also, the length of handle bars must be shorter than 69 cm. Bicycles are not allowed on community shuttles before dawn or after sunset, because they would block the headlights.
Proposed Changes/Improvements
No. | Name | Area | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Lakeshore Mission/Downtown |
Kelowna | This route will strictly run down Pandosy and Lakeshore and no longer serve Okanagan College, however, this route will only be a short walk away. The route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre. |
2 | North End Shuttle | Kelowna | This route will be absorbed into the new #5 route. |
4 | Express Pandosy/UBCO |
Kelowna | This route will still serve Okanagan College to make up for the loss of the direct #1 service. |
5 | Gordon Drive Express | Kelowna | Route from Queensway Exchange (downtown) north on Water Street, east on Cawston, and south of Gordon to terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre with connections to the 15, 16, and 17 routes. |
6 | Glenmore to UBCO Downtown/UBCO |
Kelowna | Due to high ridership, this route's frequency will likely be increased. |
7 | Glenmore Downtown/Orchard Park |
Kelowna | This route will only serve Orchard Park, however, the #6 will replace the #7 Queensway's role of getting downtown. |
8 | University OC/UBCO |
Kelowna | This route will run to Okanagan College and do a loop around the block in order to replace the existing confusing terminus route. |
11 | Rutland Downtown/Rutland |
Kelowna | This route will de diverted to Kelowna General Hospital and then head to Queensway Exchange (downtown). |
15 | Crawford | Mission | Route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre instead of Lakeshore @ Dehart where there will be amenities available such as food, washrooms, a library, public pool, gym, and a payphone. |
16 | Southwest Mission | Mission | Same changes as Route 15 Crawford. |
17 | Unnamed | Mission | Route will terminate at the H20/Capital News Centre and continue down Gordon to served the Kuipers residential area in SW Mission. |
22 | Peachland | Peachland | Establish a park and ride in Peachland to serve residents no located directly adjacent to the route. |
27 | Horizon | West Kelowna | Marked for elimination due to low ridership. |
28 | Smith Creek | West Kelowna | Marked for elimination due to low ridership. Route 24 Shannon Lake may be expanded into this area to make up for loss of service. |
29 | Bear Creek | West Kelowna | Marked for elimination due to low ridership. |
90 | North Okanagan Connector-Vernon | Vernon | Bus will no longer exit the highway to serve Oyama since statistic show few boardings in that area. Instead, it is proposed that a park and ride be established in Lake Country instead to serve these residents. |
97X | RapidBus UBCO/Downtown |
Kelowna | Construct stops and Gordon and Richter within a few years and eventually continue to West Kelowna to serve the proposed Boucherie Exchange and Westbank Exchange as funding becomes available. |
## | Quail Ridge Shuttle | Winfield | Proposed to run from UBC Okanagan to the adjacent residential community where many students reside in the apartments and basement suites. This community is cut off from the city without the use of personal vehicles and the natural trail connecting the UBC Okanagan is potentially a safety risk, especially at night, until improvements are made. |
Fares
Fare Type | Cash Fare | 10 Tickets | Day Pass | Monthly Pass | Semester Pass |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult | $2.00 | $18.00 | $5.50 | $53.00 | |
College Student | $2.00 | $18.00 | $5.50 | $43.00 | $138.00 |
Senior | $1.75 | $15.25 | $5.00 | $37.00 | |
Student to Grade 12 | $1.75 | $15.25 | $5.00 | $34.00 | |
Children Under 5 | No Charge | ||||
handyDART | $2.00 | $60.00 | |||
Students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus have access to U-PASS
Universal Transit Pass
In North America,Universal Transit Pass is a program that gives students enrolled in participating post-secondary institutions unlimited access to local transit. Programs are typically funded through mandatory fees that eligible students pay in each term in which they are registered. Fees are...
program.