BC Transit announced route changes along with a service expansion coming after Labour Day for Chilliwack and Fraser Valley Regional District.
Local MLAs Dan Coulter and Kelli Paddon are lauding the changes.
"The seven-days-a-week service for HandyDART in Chilliwack makes our community even more accessible," said Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack. "Expanding services for people who rely on transit only makes our communities stronger, and I'm glad to see extended weekday hours as well as service on Sundays."
The added service hours are meant to help increase ridership and support continued growth in Chilliwack.
In Chilliwack, this includes HandyDART services having extended evening service on weekdays to 6:30 p.m. as well as adding service on Sundays that aligns with the Saturday service. Also Routes 1 and 2 of the Fraser Valley Connector will see weekday peak frequency improvements.
"I have heard from people in our community the importance of this expansion. More HandyDART services in our community means more options for people who rely on public transportation to access appointments, and for errands, travel and day to day life," said Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent.
The service boost in Chilliwack is part of improved transit plans for communities across B.C., and will be welcomed in Chilliwack, Paddon said.
BC Transit, the City of Chilliwack and Fraser Valley Regional District jointly announced changes on Aug. 20 for the region that will come into effect on Sept. 3.
Route 56 Cultus Lake seasonal service, and Route 71 Agassiz/Harrison seasonal Sunday service will come to an end the day after Labour Day, and Route 51 Vedder will re-introduce school trips.
An expansion for HandyDART users is also on the way. Weekday service will be extended by two hours. HandyDART service will run weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
There will also now be HandyDART service offered on Sundays and holidays from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
"This service expansion in the Chilliwack Transit System has been made possible by an increase in local government and provincial funding. The operating grant provided in the 2024-25 provincial budget will allow BC Transit and its local government partners to continue to provide safe and reliable service and demonstrates that public transit remains a priority in our communities."
To support communities and the increased demand for public transit, the province is committing $298 million for new BC Transit system expansion. BC Transit is expanding systems to shape the growth of communities that will benefit from new routes, more buses and improved service.
For trip planning, schedules and alerts: bctransit.com/chilliwack
