top of page

Penticton to Kelowna Route 70 now open! 

​

For just $5, you can now travel from Penticton to Kelowna.  Once in Kelowna, riders can purchase a transfer to Okanagan College, UBCO, Orchard Park Mall, Kelowna General Hospital, the airport, etc.

 

This is great news for the South Okanagan Similkameen. Our neighbours to the south of us (Oliver, Osoyoos, Similkameen, etc.) are also looped in on the route and BC Transit heavily subsidizes rural transit routes.   

Greater West Bench / Sage Mesa has an opportunity to link into Route 70, the City of Penticton, Summerland District and the RDOS regional transit systems.

This isn't the first time the community has discussed this issue. And while the idea has been well supported before, it has been some time since the community has weighed in. 

​

So, we want to ensure that residents are still in support of the big idea of public transit.   We need to indicate that support (or lack of) by the end of September to BC Transit.  Fill out the survey below, please. 

Thank you for attending the public info session on Wednesday night!

There was some great conversation around partnerships, routes, hours, costs, history.... it was great feedback.   If you have any questions, please email info@rdos.bc.ca with Greater West Bench Sage Mesa Transit in the subject line.

​

​Some points shared on Wednesday night:

​

  • A brief historical overview of public transit in the Greater West Bench.  The main take away from the history is that this process started years ago (2006).

  • It was 2015 when our area was placed in BC Transit's queue. 

  • It has taken to 2019 to get to the top of BC Transit's priorities for new service routes.

  • If an overwhelming percentage of residents are not in favour of transit - it won't happen. 

  • However, we may have to wait 4 - 5 years for another opportunity. 

  • If we do agree to test the service we can cancel it if it isn't a good fit but we need to give it a few years. 

  • Now is a unique window as there are overlaps in service routes which means we have idle buses.  That means we don't have to buy a new bus to begin the service.

  • Public Transporation is heavily subsidized by the province. 

The presentation is below. 

Please provide your feedback by:

​

EMAIL to info@rdos.bc.ca or click here. Be sure to add Greater West Bench / Sage Mesa Transit to the subject line.

PRINT off the online form and drop it off to the RDOS office at 101 Martin Street in Penticton.

COMPLETE the RDOS online survey

OR

CALL ME with any questions or comments at 250-488-0246

​

DEADLINE for feedback is Wednesday, September 25.

​

​

bottom of page