Kamloops transit recovering better than expected, more frequency to be added

KAMLOOPS — Transit in Kamloops saw a decline in riders through the pandemic but is now recovering better than expected, according to the Annual Transit Performance Summary that went before council today (Feb. 1).

After the initial decrease in riders when the pandemic hit, Kamloops transit is back up to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The last 30 per cent will be hard to get back as some industries continue to work completely from home.

Until that significantly changes, and there’s not that requirement to maintain physical distance… transit is unlikely to get that particular segment of the population,” BC Transit’s Seth Wright says.

The report also included the results of a survey that was done last year. About half of riders surveyed wished that transit would be added to neighbourhoods with low but growing demand. City staff agree; they say they want to see more service in those newer communities.

“I think of places like Juniper Ridge and Batchelor Heights, where you may not see the ridership currently, but there is certainly capacity to grow in those areas as well,” Kamloops’ Transportation Planner Jacob Burnley says.

Although ridership is down, the city is continuing the yearly trend of increasing bus service. Burnley says that the more frequent busses will help entice riders to try out transit.

“It’s almost like, ‘if you build it, they will come’. People aren’t going to use a service that’s not going to work for them,” he says.

According to the city’s Climate Action Plan, the aim is for half of all trips to be by bus, bike or foot by 2050. As of 2017, 13 per cent of trips were made by transit or active transportation.