More riders means better cost recovery for Kelowna Transit

KELOWNA – Average ridership is up and Kelowna Transit is recovering more of the cost of providing transit service in the Central Okanagan.

Regional programs manager Jerry Dombowsky will also be seeking council approval for September service adjustments and the go-ahead to sign a contract for transit services for 2017 to 2019.

Across the 18 conventional transit routes it services, Kelowna Transit is reporting an average number of boardings at 25.7 per revenue hour and an estimated cost recovery of 33 per cent over the last four months of 2015. 

Transit targets a minimum of 12 rides per service hour with a 15 per cent minimum cost recovery.

Bringing down that average were three south Kelowna routes, the #15 Crawford (nine per cent), #12 McCulloch (14 per cent) and #17 Southridge (14 per cent). The #15 Crawford was also the only route that did not meet the minimum 12 rides per hour target.

Growth routes for Kelowna Transit include the #1 Lakeshore, with boarding up five per cent and the #5 Gordon up 28 per cent. Boardings on the #12 McCulloch were up 17 per cent and 35 per cent on the #14 Black Mountain route.

A number of service adjustments are proposed for September.

Council will consider the request at its next public meeting at 1:30 p.m., Monday, June 27, at Kelowna City Hall.

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