A new bus route connecting Scia’new (Beecher Bay) First Nation to Victoria completed its first trip Tuesday (Jan. 4).
B.C. Transit’s route 64 runs from East Sooke to Langford through Scia’new First Nation, giving its residents transit access to neighbouring Greater Victoria communities for the first time.
So far, the route only runs through Scia’new First Nation once in the morning, midday and evening on weekdays. More times and weekend trips are possible in the future, depending on demand.
“We have worked for a very long time to bring bus service to our community,” Scia’new First Nation Chief Russ Chipps said in a B.C. Transit news release. He called the route a “game changer” for community members.
READ ALSO: January service changes announced for Victoria Regional Transit System
B.C. Transit made a number of other changes to Greater Victoria routes for January, including increasing service around the University of Victoria, dividing the previous Route 2 into the 2 South Oak Bay/James Bay and 5 Willows/James Bay, and reducing schedules on a number of other routes.
The transit service continues to face an operator and driver shortage and has chosen to reduce its January schedule to ensure better reliability for riders. It has returned printed schedules to its bus stops, after removing them at the end of November, but says riders are still best off checking bctransit.com or the BC Transit app for up-to-date route information.
READ ALSO: BC Transit says driver shortage drove decision to remove print schedules from Victoria stops
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