10299 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

About 27 million passengers took a B.C. Transit bus in the capital region during the 2025-26 fiscal year, paying an average fare of $1.56 and bringing in just over $42 million in passenger revenue.

 

Financial statements show passenger revenue was 4.7 per cent higher than expected due to a fare increase in April 2025, which saw the cost of a single adult fare jump to $3 per trip from $2.50.

 

B.C. Transit had budgeted for diesel at $1.75 per litre, but prices averaged at $1.42 per litre after the B.C. carbon tax was repealed in April 2025.

 

Fuel and fleet maintenance costs came in under budget by a combined $6.4 million.

 

The province chips in about 69 per cent of operating costs, with the rest made up through local revenue, including fares, property tax levies and levies on motor fuel sold in the region.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ervice-12292549

[Victoria Watcher]

Transit bus in the capital region during the 2025-26 fiscal year, paying an average fare of $1.56

 

Not sure how to get to this number.

 

A single ride was $2.50 and is now $3.  Day pass (also required for return travel) is $5/6.

 

A 30-day pass is $85.  $85 divided by 22 riding days, 2 trips per day would be $1.93.

 

Now, that's all for adults.  Teens and students and seniors pay less ($45) for a monthly pass, and kids 12 and under pay nothing. 

 

Low-income seniors can get an annual pass for $45 from the Priovince.  So do those on disability benefits.  It's unclear how much money the Province specifically gives to the transit system for each of these passes.

 

For UVic students, the robot says this:

 

 

Total per student (approx.): Around $170+ per year flows to/support BC Transit when combining the main fee and UVic subsidy (for two terms), though exact per-student remittances depend on enrollment, opt-outs, and contract terms. UVic/UVSS handle collection and remittance.

 

 

Maybe it all works out.  It usually does.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 May 2026 - 01:39 AM.

[Mike K.]

Fares go up 20%, but overall revenue is only up 4.7%?

Accounting for passes that remained stable in price, you’d still think revenue would be higher than 4.7% after a 20% cash fare increase? I dunno.

But there absolutely is a problem with riders -not- paying any fare.

[lanforod]

I had the same thought, Mike. Maybe the passes need a 20% lift.

[Mike K.]

Bus lanes open on Burnside bridges. Province:

New bus-on-shoulder lanes are open on the Colquitz River Bridges over Burnside Road in Saanich, helping people using public transit get around more quickly.

“These new bus-on-shoulder lanes on the Colquitz River Bridges along Highway 1 will help keep buses moving reliably through busy traffic and improve travel times for commuters during peak hours,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “With construction of this portion of the project complete, people will notice a smoother, faster commute right away.”

Keeping public transit moving faster

The new bus-on-shoulder lanes allow buses to bypass congestion at a key pinch point, helping transit riders get through the corridor faster during peak travel periods.

“The new bus-on-shoulder lanes at the Colquitz River Bridges will make a real difference in people’s daily lives,” said Stephanie McLean, MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke and federal Secretary of State (Seniors). “This work will save commuters time and support more sustainable transportation choices. Our government is proud to invest in infrastructure that strengthens communities and supports long-term growth.”

The new lanes create a more continuous transit corridor between the existing transit lanes along Douglas Street and Highway 1 and the McKenzie Interchange. The lanes will also connect to the future Highway 1 bus-on-shoulder project that is under construction between the McKenzie Interchange and Colwood. It is expected to be finished in 2027.

“The opening of a bus-on-shoulder lane across the Colquitz Bridges is an important step toward faster, more reliable travel for everyone travelling on a bus along Highway 1,” said Erinn Pinkerton, president and CEO of BC Transit, “The extension of the current transit lanes strengthens our RapidBus service and reinforces public transit as an efficient, reliable transportation solution for moving people between the Westshore and downtown Victoria.”

Building for a growing region

This section of Highway 1 is one of the busiest in the region and a key connection for people travelling between the Westshore and downtown Victoria. More than 300 buses travel this section each day, carrying thousands of transit riders. The additional lanes will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and help make transit service faster and more reliable, particularly during peak travel periods.

“Improvements to regional transit service play a critical role in creating livable communities,” said Dean Murdock, mayor of the District of Saanich. “By reducing congestion, these new lanes will allow more residents to get where they need to go more quickly and sustainably.”

The scope of the Colquitz River Bridges project includes:

widened and seismically upgraded both existing two‑lane bridges over Burnside Road on Highway 1 between Tillicum Road and the McKenzie Interchange
added one bus-on-shoulder lane in both directions on the bridges
new bridge deck drainage system, including rain garde and sediment catch basin, and replaced invasive plants with native trees and vegetation to better protect the Colquitz River
Quick Facts:

The total project cost is $33.5 million, with $23.5 million from the Province and $10 million from the federal government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
This project supports the Province’s South Island Transportation Strategy, which focuses on improving safety, reliability and resiliency through co-ordinated highway, transit and active transportation investments.

[Victoria Watcher]

Transit riders in Greater Victoria — and most of the rest of B.C. — can finally pay for their bus journeys by tapping their credit cards, debit cards or smartphone wallets.

When B.C. Transit began trying out the Umo payment system in Victoria-area buses in the spring of 2023, it had anticipated it would bring in mobile wallet, credit and debit card payment by the time the system was fully rolled out across the province.

But it ended up taking about three years for B.C. Transit and Umo to make that happen.

Until now, riders who didn’t pay with cash had to use an Umo card or app on their smartphones.

B.C. Transit CEO Erinn Pinkerton said at a news conference Tuesday that contactless payments were trialed in Whistler 12 weeks ago, and already 18 per cent of riders are choosing to tap to pay for their fares.

https://www.timescol...-buses-12300821

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 May 2026 - 11:44 AM.

[LJ]

Bus lanes open on Burnside bridges. Province:

New bus-on-shoulder lanes are open on the Colquitz River Bridges over Burnside Road in Saanich, helping people using public transit get around more quickly.

“These new bus-on-shoulder lanes on the Colquitz River Bridges along Highway 1 will help keep buses moving reliably through busy traffic and improve travel times for commuters during peak hours,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “With construction of this portion of the project complete, people will notice a smoother, faster commute right away.”

Keeping public transit moving faster

The new bus-on-shoulder lanes allow buses to bypass congestion at a key pinch point, helping transit riders get through the corridor faster during peak travel periods.

“The new bus-on-shoulder lanes at the Colquitz River Bridges will make a real difference in people’s daily lives,” said Stephanie McLean, MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke and federal Secretary of State (Seniors). “This work will save commuters time and support more sustainable transportation choices. Our government is proud to invest in infrastructure that strengthens communities and supports long-term growth.”

The new lanes create a more continuous transit corridor between the existing transit lanes along Douglas Street and Highway 1 and the McKenzie Interchange. The lanes will also connect to the future Highway 1 bus-on-shoulder project that is under construction between the McKenzie Interchange and Colwood. It is expected to be finished in 2027.

“The opening of a bus-on-shoulder lane across the Colquitz Bridges is an important step toward faster, more reliable travel for everyone travelling on a bus along Highway 1,” said Erinn Pinkerton, president and CEO of BC Transit, “The extension of the current transit lanes strengthens our RapidBus service and reinforces public transit as an efficient, reliable transportation solution for moving people between the Westshore and downtown Victoria.”

Building for a growing region

This section of Highway 1 is one of the busiest in the region and a key connection for people travelling between the Westshore and downtown Victoria. More than 300 buses travel this section each day, carrying thousands of transit riders. The additional lanes will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and help make transit service faster and more reliable, particularly during peak travel periods.

“Improvements to regional transit service play a critical role in creating livable communities,” said Dean Murdock, mayor of the District of Saanich. “By reducing congestion, these new lanes will allow more residents to get where they need to go more quickly and sustainably.”

The scope of the Colquitz River Bridges project includes:

widened and seismically upgraded both existing two‑lane bridges over Burnside Road on Highway 1 between Tillicum Road and the McKenzie Interchange
added one bus-on-shoulder lane in both directions on the bridges
new bridge deck drainage system, including rain garde and sediment catch basin, and replaced invasive plants with native trees and vegetation to better protect the Colquitz River
Quick Facts:

The total project cost is $33.5 million, with $23.5 million from the Province and $10 million from the federal government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
This project supports the Province’s South Island Transportation Strategy, which focuses on improving safety, reliability and resiliency through co-ordinated highway, transit and active transportation investments.

I wonder how many drivers will try to bypass traffic by sneaking in and out of the bus lane?

 

It seems silly to me to provide a whole lane for what, one vehicle every 15 minutes? It is going to be empty the majority of time.

 

They have signed it with a diamond symbol which in most places means HOV vehicles, if they had included pullouts for the busses at stops they could have made it into a true HOV lane and reduced commuting times for everybody, not just bus riders.

[Victoria Watcher]

It seems silly to me to provide a whole lane for what, one vehicle every 15 minutes? It is going to be empty the majority of time.

 

They have signed it with a diamond symbol which in most places means HOV vehicles, if they had included pullouts for the busses at stops they could have made it into a true HOV lane and reduced commuting times for everybody, not just bus riders.

 

We are way too woke for that, here.

[Victoria Watcher]

BC Transit $12.6M surplus locked in red tape, advocate wants it put to good use

 

“We would really love to see a system where we have more certainty year-to-year as to what we’re going to get for expansion,” Holland noted. “The system we have hasn’t been changed basically since 1977, and that’s a really long time. The city has grown a lot.”

 

https://cheknews.ca/...od-use-1325293/

 

 

 

 

That sounds like a bit of a fib.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 May 2026 - 03:37 AM.

[Mike K.]

It’s also just two weeks worth of funding. It’s not exactly a major amount.

[Victoria Watcher]

Transit contract talks in Greater Victoria have reached an impasse, with unionized workers preparing for a strike vote later this week.

Unifor Local 333-BC says negotiations with BC Transit broke down Thursday, May 22, after the two sides failed to reach agreement on several key issues.

According to the union, major sticking points in bargaining include increased sick time, enhanced dental coverage, more time for between-trip washroom breaks for bus drivers and peer-to-peer training for maintenance workers.

https://cheknews.ca/...-union-1326682/

[Mike K.]

Last major strike here was back in 2001, and lasted two weeks according to the robot.

[Mike K.]

Digital advertisement bus shelters are being installed in the CoV. Via CoV:

Almost 100 new bus shelters are coming by the end of 2026, making transit safer and more comfortable for people in Victoria – at no cost to the City.

Earlier this year, installation began at 10 bus stops that didn’t previously have shelters. Another 88 shelters will replace outdated shelters, many that are over 20 years old, the typical lifespan of a bus shelter.

“We want to make it easier and safer for people to choose transit and other sustainable ways to get around the city,” said John Hicks, Manager of Transportation Planning. “Modern shelters mean a more comfortable place to wait.”

The new shelters, provided by BC Transit and Astral Media Outdoor, will have benches, be wheelchair accessible and meet current accessibility standards.

“BC Transit is pleased to partner with the City of Victoria to deliver new bus shelters that improve safety, comfort and accessibility for riders across the community,” said Aaron Lamb, Vice President of Asset Management and Chief Sustainability Officer for BC Transit. “Bus shelters are an important part of the transit experience, especially during adverse weather conditions, and I look forward to seeing these new shelters benefit our riders throughout Victoria.”

BC Transit will provide 20 shelters. Astral Media Outdoor will install 78 shelters, including two with green roofs and 30 with digital advertising, which will generate revenue for the City.

The first Astral digital advertising shelter was installed at Douglas Street near Yates Street on May 28.

Shelters and improvements at bus stops are among the top five enhancements needed to encourage new riders to use transit, according to market analysis.

Transit shelter renewal supports the Official Community Plan’s vision to enable shifting toward low-carbon and sustainable transportation. Enhancing accessibility and increasing transit ridership are key goals of GoVictoria, the City’s Sustainable Mobility Strategy.

[Victoria Watcher]

many that are over 20 years old, the typical lifespan of a bus shelter.

 

 

 

A 35-year-old wooden bus shelter on Royal Oak Drive.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 June 2026 - 06:20 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

This one on Shelbourne has seen better days, but it's over 45 years old.

 

 

 

[lanforod]

ScreenShot Tool -20260601101753.png

 

A 35-year-old wooden bus shelter on Royal Oak Drive.

 

Put that on Pandora, it'd last less than a week.

Edited by lanforod, 01 June 2026 - 07:02 AM.

[Mike K.]

From BCT:

BC Transit is starting site preparation and building demolition work at the site of the future Saanich Transit Centre this July that will continue to the end of 2026. This early site preparation work is necessary to ensure the site is ready for future facility construction when funding is secured.

The construction contract was awarded to Kinetic Construction and their onsite presence is anticipated to increase throughout June, starting with tree protection work and progressing towards taking down five buildings in the summer and fall months. Once the buildings are removed, civil work will be completed to ensure the site is ready for future construction. Ahead of any future construction, the site may be used for bus or other BC Transit-related storage needs.

Prior to any significant work taking place, BC Transit will host two open houses offering the public a chance to meet the project team, ask questions, and learn more about the upcoming on-site activities. Neighbours and anyone interested are encouraged to drop-by for coffee and light snacks at one of the times below:

When

Where
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, June 18
4196 Glanford Avenue
(Former Wilson’s Transportation location)

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, June 20
4196 Glanford Avenue
(Former Wilson’s Transportation location)

BC Transit has applied to the District of Saanich for all the necessary permits, completed a tree protection plan, and has an independent environmental monitor that will oversee and document all aspects of demolition and site preparation activities. A tree inventory has been completed by a professional arborist and a bird nesting study is underway. BC Transit is also working with nearby neighbours and business owners to ensure construction impacts are mitigated as much as possible and milestone timelines are communicated.

During construction, a traffic management plan will ensure there are minimal impacts to local road users, and the majority of construction activities will be managed within the property boundaries. All construction activities will take place within all District of Saanich bylaws and BC Transit apologizes in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause.

In the future, funding will be needed to support an expanded transit network in the Victoria region, including a new operations and maintenance facility at this site. The need for a new regional facility was identified in 2011 and BC Transit’s current facilities are reaching their limit. To add more buses to the transit system, another facility is needed to park and maintain them. This five-acre site is zoned for this use and centrally located, with easy access to the Pat Bay Highway.

The $47.8 million in combined investment was announced in December 2023 by the governments of Canada and British Columbia, and BC Transit.

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Transit is set to begin tearing down five buildings in Saanich to make way for a transit centre for which it has yet to secure funding.

The demolition contract was awarded to Kinetic Construction, and work is expected to begin this month.

The five buildings at Glanford Avenue and Commerce Circle include a former Wilsons Transportation Group bus depot.

B.C. Transit has said that a transit centre on the 5.14-acre property could accommodate another 150 buses in the fleet. It said the centre would be designed to be compatible with electric bus charging infrastructure.


https://www.timescol...al-oak-12383935

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 June 2026 - 07:38 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

An organization that argues Victoria Transit buses are slow and getting slower looks to prove a point, pitting a team of grannies on bikes against the local rapid bus.

The Route 95 Blink RapidBus, launched in 2023, aims to provide a faster, more reliable connection between Langford and downtown Victoria through more frequent service, bus lanes and fewer stops.

“The goal is to show how transit can and should be better,” Better Transit YYJ chair Sam Holland said. “More than 11,000 people use the 95 every day in each direction, and the bus is stuck in traffic downtown and in Colwood. Boarding is slow, because BC Transit is years behind on allowing boarding through the back door.”

_________________________

 

Aside from back door boarding, Better Transit seeks a commitment to a 20 per cent increase in speed for buses along Douglas and for the City of Victoria to develop concrete plans to move Douglas to a corridor primarily designed for pedestrians and transit.

https://vicnews.com/...rias-rapid-bus/

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Transit is set to begin tearing down five buildings in Saanich to make way for a transit centre for which it has yet to secure funding.

The demolition contract was awarded to Kinetic Construction, and work is expected to begin this month.

The five buildings at Glanford Avenue and Commerce Circle include a former Wilsons Transportation Group bus depot.

B.C. Transit has said that a transit centre on the 5.14-acre property could accommodate another 150 buses in the fleet. It said the centre would be designed to be compatible with electric bus charging infrastructure.


https://www.timescol...al-oak-12383935

 

 

Where does Wilson park now?