Residents of Penticton, B.C. are invited to have their say on the public transit system as part of a significant restructure initiative—the first major changes in over 20 years. The City of Penticton and BC Transit are asking locals to fill out an online survey that is live until Feb. 12, or attend one of four in-person open houses during the week starting Feb 1.
Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure for the City of Penticton, explains the need for this overhaul – “Things happen over time with transit networks, and you reach a point where all of a sudden you think, ‘OK, we might need to step back and take a broader look and see if there’s a better way to offer this service.”
The current restructure plan aims to get ridership up to pre-pandemic levels again. Over the past two-and-a-half years, public transit usage has decreased due to COVID-19, so now is the perfect time to provide input on how local transportation should look going forward.
Anyone who lives in or around Penticton is eligible to take part in this important project that affects everyone in town. Open houses will be held at the following locations:
- Wednesday 10 am – 12 pm Senior’s Drop-in Centre
- Wednesday 3 pm – 6 pm Cherry Lane Shopping Centre by Save On Foods
- Thursday 11:30 am – 1:30 Okanagan College cafeteria
- Thursday 3 pm – 6 pm Community Centre lobby
Residents who cannot attend these times can still make their voice heard by filling out an online survey which takes about 15 minutes to complete [https://engage.bctransit.com/penticton2023]. Everyone can play a direct role in influencing how public transport services look for many years into the future!
Despite being more than two decades since any major changes were made on Penticton’s public transit system, it remains one of our most valuable resources; providing people with reliable access across multiple areas around town and beyond. Now is your chance to help ensure its effectiveness keeps up with changing demands – take some time to share your opinion today!
