UBCO Bus Woes

Written by Glen Morrison Friday, 03 September 2010 05:57

Bus service from the North Okanagan to Kelowna is expanding, but Vernon is the only one on board.

Regional directors have chosen to not put money into a second bus.

They are keeping their cash going into the first UBCO bus which started two years ago, but say it's not worth their investment for number two.

Lumby mayor Kevin Acton says the village just doesn't have the money for it,  while Area F rural Enderby director Herman Halvorson says his constituents don't use the UBCO bus.

Vernon director Jack Gilroy (pictured) is disappointed they won't back the second bus.

He says it's also used by residents who have jobs in Kelowna.

Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert still hopes Coldstream will share some of the $120,000 annual cost.

"It's not just a bus to UBCO. It also goes to the (Kelowna) airport and to Okanagan College. It's something the college has been asking for for years, with bus runs later in the evening and this (bus) will do that."

Coldstream is still checking to see how many of its residents would use the second bus.

If the District joined, it would lower Vernon's share to $105,804 with Coldstream at $14,196.

The expanded service to UBCO  begins Sunday.