By Tom Mark

School District 83 Studies Transportation Issues

Mar 19, 2018 | 8:26 AM

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District is reviewing its transportation system.

Trustee Mike McKay admits its grown out of control with a number of loops or extensions added to bus routes to accommodate courtesy riders.

He says that’s a great service but it can be detrimental to some of the eligible riders.

“In the extreme cases, they’re on the buses for an additional 45 minutes each way per day in order to accommodate some of these extensions and these loops.”

McKay says that’s not sustainable.

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There’s no opportunity for more buses.

“We would not qualify right now because the justification we would have for needing more buses is to run routes for courtesy riders or to allow for Courtesy riders.”

McKay says they’re also running into some cases where buses are full or overcrowded.

Eligible riders are those who are attending their catchment area school, not going to another school or program by choice and are outside the walk limits that are defined by provincial regulation.

Courtesy riders are those inside the walk limits or attending a program or school of choice.

Meetings will be held with the public and parent advisory council in April to discuss the matter.

by Tom Mark