Bus stop to stay at Vernon mall for now

VERNON – Plans to move a bus stop at the Vernon mall are on hold.

First Canada, the local transit operator, was going to discontinue stopping outside the Village Green Centre food court as of Feb. 6 due to safety issues, with a new stop being built on 48 Avenue.

That idea wasn’t popular with Vernon council, which pointed out the walk across the parking lot would be a hardship for seniors or those with mobility issues.

The change has now been delayed at least until April 1. The city is hoping B.C. Transit and the Village Green Centre will look at putting a stop outside The Bay instead.

“It’s a good thing it’s being pushed off because I was disappointed in that bus stop being closed. I think a lot of people used that bus stop, there’s no good pedestrian access from the sidewalk (on 48 Avenue) to the mall, so until we have a better solution I think status quo is better,” Coun. Brian Quiring said.

Route 3 (Alexis Park), route 2 (Pleasant Valley) and route 60 (Armstrong-Enderby) all stop at the mall.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.