The Town of Osoyoos has reached a memorandum of agreement that will regionalize all transit fees and implement one regional Rider’s Guide across the South Okanagan Transit System. For the past two years, an advisory group comprised of RDOS, Summerland, Penticton, Princeton, Keremeos, Oliver and Osoyoos staff was formed to look at the regionalization of the different services and integrate them into one Rider’s Guide with one fare schedule. (Contributed photo)
The Town of Osoyoos has reached a memorandum of agreement that will regionalize all transit fees and implement one regional Rider’s Guide across the South Okanagan Transit System.
The Town of Osoyoos has held the operating agreement with the South Okanagan Transit System for several years and it was in a long-term business plan to turn over the administrative operation of the operating agreement to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) as the system services Osoyoos, Oliver and RDOS areas A, C and D, said Janette Van Vianen, the Town of Osoyoos’ director of corporate services during a presentation to town council on Monday.
“In 2016, the RDOS passed a servicing bylaw to take on the administration of the South Okanagan Transit System operating agreement,” she said. “This will come into effect on April 1, 2017 once the current operating agreement between BC Transit and the Town of Osoyoos expires.
“For the past two years, an advisory group comprised of RDOS, Summerland, Penticton, Princeton, Keremeos, Oliver and Osoyoos staff was formed to look at the regionalization of the different services and integrate them into one Rider’s Guide with one fare schedule.”
One fare that will remain the same for the time being is the South Okanagan Transit service to Kelowna, which will remain at $11 from Osoyoos, she said.
The transit future plan does look at regionalizing this system, but until that process is completed, the South Okanagan Transit System will continue to have Monday service between Osoyoos and Kelowna, she said.
The new fees for Osoyoos local will increase from $1.75 to $2.25 per fare and from $2.75 to $4 to Oliver, effective April 1.
The fare from Osoyoos to Okanagan Falls/Kaleden will remain at $4, while the fare to Penticton will decrease from the current $5.25 to $4. The rate from Osoyoos to Summerland will also decrease from $7.75 to $4.
“In some cases, the rates will increase, where in others they will decrease with a total projected loss of revenue of $1,960 (10 per cent) in 2017, said Van Vianen. “The ridership, however, is expected to increase by 87 or three per cent. These projections are based on BC Transit models and are speculative, but not absolute.
“The loss of revenue is shared amongst the funding partners and, therefore, based on the previous calculated share, Osoyoos would only be paying $752 more toward transit.”
The good news for regular riders is that the monthly pass fees will be reduced dramatically, she said.
“This is to encourage people to purchase monthly passes reducing the amount of cash on board the bus and hopefully to attract more frequent riders throughout the system,” she said. “This will also be beneficial administratively as it will reduce staff time in cash fare accounting.
“It is important to note that these fares will be the same throughout the region, so it will be easier for citizens to know how much the bus will cost in any area. Monthly passes will be sold out of the Town offices in Osoyoos and Oliver and out of the RDOS office in Penticton.”
Being able to travel from Osoyoos to Kelowna for an $11 fare is a fantastic bargain, said Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
