The first two out of 39 new double decker buses destined for Greater Victoria have arrived, BC Transit announced Friday.
The two new buses are Enviro 500 Alexander Dennis models and have room for up to 80 seated passengers and 24 standing passengers on the lower level.
They’re equipped with a host of upgrades, including Umo fare payment technology, USB ports at every seat for charging devices, monitors at the bottom of stairs to show upper-level seating availability, screens that display Nextride information – like upcoming stops – and “modern vinyl seating that is easy to clean and resists dirt and contaminants.”
The new buses also have side-mounted “docking lights” that are used to illuminate the side of a bus when it stops to improve safety when boarding or disembarking, and improved mobility aid positions for securing wheelchairs.
The first two buses to arrive will be put on high-demand routes, like the 95 Blink RapidBus, which travels between Langford and Victoria and sees more than 11,000 boardings daily.
Of the 39 new double decker buses destined for Victoria, 29 will replace existing buses and 10 will be additions to the current Victoria Regional Transit System (VRTS) fleet.
“Our double-decker buses are iconic in the Victoria region. The arrival of new buses marks the start of a significant investment in transit for the Victoria Regional Transit System,” said Erinn Pinkerton, president and CEO for BC Transit
“The 39 new buses arriving this year will help maintain reliable service on some of our busiest routes, keeping people connected to places like the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, the West Shore, the University of Victoria and downtown,” she said.
RELATED: BC Transit to retire handful of Victoria’s original double-decker buses after 20 years in service
Funding for 29 of the buses came from multiple levels of government, including roughly $20.99 million from the federal government, $21.89 million from the provincial government, and $12.4 million from the Victoria Regional Transit Commission for a grand total of $55.3 million.
The remaining 10 double decker buses were funded by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, which contributed $12 million, and the B.C. government, which provided $8.4 million, for a total of $20.4 million.
“We’re proud to mark the arrival of these new double‑decker buses, which will boost capacity, improve reliability, and enhance the overall transit experience for people across the region,” said Victoria MP Will Greaves in a statement.
“This investment underscores our commitment to sustainable, accessible transportation and to supporting efforts to ensure that communities in Victoria are served by a modern, dependable transit system.”
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