Kelowna, British Columbia, October 20, 2012 – Kelowna's Rutland neighbourhood will join the Frequent Transit Network with links to RapidBus service by the end of next year. Construction of a new transit exchange is now underway.
Kelowna–Lake Country MP Ron Cannan joined Kelowna–Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick, Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray and BC Transit vice president of operations and chief operating officer Mike Davis to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Rutland transit exchange.
The Rutland transit exchange will form a part of the Frequent Transit Network and will provide commuters with direct access to the second phase of the Kelowna RapidBus project once both are completed. The second phase of Kelowna RapidBus is slated to begin in late spring of 2013. The Frequent Transit Network will offer transit riders the convenience of service every fifteen minutes or better during peak hours.
The Rutland transit exchange is funded in partnership through a $1.4-million contribution from the federal Gas Tax Fund, $2 million from the government of British Columbia and $1.1 million from the City of Kelowna for a total of $4.5 million to complete the exchange.
Construction of the Rutland exchange is also a part of the City of Kelowna's revitalization program for the area. In addition to an improved exchange in Rutland, other exchanges will be upgraded at Queensway, Okanagan College and Pandosy Village over the next two years.
Overall, the Phase 2 & 3 RapidBus project will result in four improved exchanges, five new RapidBus stations, branded shelters and real-time passenger information displays.
In total, the Kelowna RapidBus project – including the Rutland transit exchange – will receive up to $46 million in funding from federal, provincial and local partners.
Canada's Gas Tax Fund provides stable, annual funding to local governments to help them build and revitalize public infrastructure. In December 2011, the Government of Canada passed legislation to make the Gas Tax Fund a permanent investment of $2 billion per year. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C., in partnership with Canada and British Columbia.
The government of British Columbia launched the $14-billion Provincial Transit Plan in 2008 with the goal of doubling ridership and reducing greenhouse gases by 4.7 million tonnes cumulatively by 2020. The plan identified nine new RapidBus lines in the high growth urban centres of Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver.
Quotes:
Kelowna–Lake Country MP Ron Cannan
"The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in this important job-creating project that also supports efficient, environmentally sustainable transportation. We will continue to work with our partners to improve transit services for area residents and promote long-term economic growth in the Kelowna region."
Kelowna–Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick
"This new exchange will help deliver more frequent and convenient transit services. More people are discovering transit as an attractive alternative to their vehicle, removing cars from our roads and helping make our community a healthier place for families to live."
Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray
"This exchange is key to the revitalization of Rutland's Town Centre and we expect this investment in Uptown Rutland will stimulate local business activity in the area. The community of Rutland can look forward to enhanced transit service as well as an attractive new public corridor."
BC Transit vice president and COO Mike Davis
"BC Transit is committed to building an efficient and effective transportation network for the region. This exchange is an important piece of the Frequent Transit Network and the RapidBus service that will connect people to their destinations easier and faster than ever before."
Learn more:
For additional information about investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with web feeds, visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
For information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
For information on the government of British Columbia, visit: www.th.gov.bc.ca/Transit_Plan/.
For information on BC Transit, visit: www.bctransit.com/transitfuture/kelrapidbus_latestupdates.cfm.
For information on the City of Kelowna, visit: www.kelowna.ca/CM/Page3887.aspx.
Media Contacts:
Geneviève Sicard
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700
Kate Trotter
Government Communications & Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure
250-356-8421
Kari O'Rourke
Senior Communications Consultant
City of Kelowna
250-469-8485
Meribeth Burton
Corporate Spokesperson
BC Transit
250-507-8145
Meribeth_burton@bctransit.com
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free: 1-877-250-715
