The announcement of which transportation company will provide services to operate the shuttle service between Kelowna International Airport and Osoyoos is less than one month away.
“Four companies have indicated expressions of interest and they are all quality providers with an excellent history of service and success in the business,” said Robert Linttell, the transportation chair with the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce who has been spearheading the campaign to start the shuttle service in the South Okanagan for more than a year.
“We expect to make the final announcement on April 30.”
A Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued several weeks ago that detailed the obligations that will be required by the bus company that will eventually be awarded the contract to provide the shuttle service between Kelowna and Osoyoos.
The contract provides a stipulation that the service must offer daily service between the airport in Kelowna and Osoyoos – with stops in all towns and cities in between, including West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan Falls and Oliver – must commence at the beginning of June, said Linttell.
Linttell will be appearing before Osoyoos town council next Monday and before Oliver town council the following week asking for financial contributions to generate a “$50,000 start up fund” to provide marketing services promoting the new shuttle service across the South Okanagan.
Linttell has approached community leaders in every community that would benefit from the service asking for contributions to this start up fund.
Linttell wanted to make it clear that the company that wins the contract to operate the shuttle service would not be receiving any taxpayer dollars, but this “one-time only fund” would be used for marketing, advertising and promotion across the service area.
“This will be a separate marketing fund and it will in no way be a contribution to the private operator,” he said.
The original goal to start the service for the beginning of May was simply unattainable considering all of the circumstances involved in the RFP process, said Linttell.
“The winning contractor is going to have to make a substantial commitment in terms of purchasing new equipment, hiring drivers and other staff and finalizing all of the details that are necessary to operate a quality shuttle service,” said Linttell. “Because of this commitment, we, as a board, made the decision to initiate the service for the beginning of June.”
Full details of the shuttle contract have not been divulged, but it’s believed the shuttle would have to offer several daily return trips between the Kelowna International Airport and Osoyoos. It’s expected the cost of a one-way trip between Osoyoos and Kelowna will be in the $30-$40 range.
There has been a lot of support for the shuttle service from business owners across the South Okanagan, not just chamber members, said Linttell. Being able to jump on a bus in Osoyoos and travel to Penticton or Kelowna without having to take your own vehicle and drive is very appealing to a lot of residents as well, he said.
Full details about scheduling and pricing will be announced when the contract is granted, he said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
