Central Okanagan

Regular users of Kelowna Transit will notice a few changes are now in effect, just in time for the start of the new school year.

As of September 2, UBCO students and other users can now catch the bus to Quail Ridge.

Photo: Grant Scott

BC Transit has implemented new routes and schedules just in time for back to school.

Transit officials and the City of Kelowna say they initiated the new route after receiving requests from students and other transit riders to link the popular neighbourhood with the university.

The route #13 Quail Ridge bus will run every 30 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and again from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Other route changes now in effect include the addition of extra runs on the #1 Lakeshore and late night Friday and Saturday service on the #97 between Downtown Kelowna and UBCO.

Routes #4 and #6 will be reinstated after a summer hiatus and other routes will return to their full fall schedule.

The #23 Lake Country route will see a 33 percent increase in weekday service which includes the doubling of midday service and 15 minute service in the afternoon peak period.

The #23 continues to provide service into UBCO and beyond as well as linking with the #90 North Okanagan Connector into Vernon.

The #97 Express that currently runs from downtown Kelowna to UBCO now crosses the bridge to West Kelowna.

The extended #97 Express will run between the Westbank Exchange at Elliott Road and UBCO via the Queensway Exchange.

In addition to the stops on the Westside which are currently served by the #21, the #97 will serve the Westbank First Nation Office.

Transit officials say the #97 Express is one more step to full RapidBus in West Kelowna.

BC Transit, with funds from both the Federal and Provincial Governments, land from the District of West Kelowna and the support of the Westbank First Nations, plans to build RapidBus stations and other amenities to support RapidBus BC.

The project is expected to be finished by fall 2014.

Some transit routes and schedules in West Kelowna have also been revised.

For more information on September schedules in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country please consult the BC Transit website.