By Tiffany Goodwein

Shoppers gifted with transit exchange

Dec 23, 2019 | 5:35 AM

Shoppers at the Village Green Centre received a gift Monday but not the kind found in stores.

Representatives of the City of Vernon, BC Transit and the Village Green Shopping Centre cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the new transit exchange outside the food court.

The transit stop used to be located near the doors of the food court but safety concerns prompted the stop to be moved along 48 Avenue in 2016.

“It would do a U-turn to exit and there would be conflicts with vehicles because there used to be parked vehicles here, so now it’s got a dedicated facility which is a lot safer for everybody,” said Amanda Watson, the City of Vernon’s transportation manager.

The new transit stop will also allow for future expansions.

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“We wanted to make sure that the facility was actually capable of growing over the years because that was just one stop,” Watson explained. “Now we have four stops that will serve us over 25 years so we can take on additional routes, additional buses and expand the service.”

Chris Fudge of BC Transit said the Vernon transit system has seen steady growth in recent years and now provides a half million rides annually.

“I think what we see here today is an excellent example of transit-supported infrastructure and really an example that other communities around the province can replicate,” Fudge said.

Four years of planning went into developing the transit exchange and the city contributed $100,000 to help make it happen.

“Safety is paramount,” Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming said, adding that the city is pleased to have a safe solution for riders that will last for years to come.

More gifts are in store for Vernon bus riders.

B.C Transit says all Vernon buses will soon be equipped with its Next Ride automatic bus location technology, which allows users to track the whereabouts of their bus in real time.

The initiative is expected to roll out in 2020.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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