A lack of drivers is forcing Kelowna Transit to alter, or cancel routes

Photo: Contributed

Kelowna Transit is feeling the pinch caused by a shortage of drivers.

Messages on reader boards on city buses indicate this could result in delays on several routes.

In an email to Castanet News, BC Transit officials say the Kelowna Regional Transit System is "currently experiencing challenges in delivering its full scheduled service.

"The current impacts to service have resulted in the need to alter schedules on short notice to reflect changing conditions in the Kelowna Regional Transit System."

Some riders have told Castanet some buses did not show up Tuesday morning.

This comes just days after BC Transit announced all transit employees must be fully vaccinated by the end of November.

While transit officials did not specifically mention COVID in its email, it did state BC Transit is actively recruiting transit operators in a number of systems across the province, and "working hard to hire more drivers as it is currently facing a labour shortage like many other customer-facing organizations.

"The operating company is working hard to rectify this issue and currently has a transit operator recruitment campaign underway."

Transit says alerts are being posted immediately on BC Transit's website once trip cancellations are confirmed.