February 22, 2023. Forty-four new buses were added to the Victoria Regional Transit System in the last quarter of 2022, helping secure safe and efficient transportation for transit riders.
The new arrivals include 15 medium-duty and 21 heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to replace diesel buses at the end of their service life. Eight double decker diesel buses were also added to the local fleet as expansion buses.
All 44 buses are equipped with passenger USB ports, bike racks that accommodate three-inch tires, white LED destination signs and full driver doors designed to protect the health and safety of drivers and passengers.
The total passenger capacity is unique to each model:
- The 30-foot medium-duty Vicinity Classic CNG buses can carry 24 seated passengers and 20 standing passengers.
- The 40-foot heavy-duty New Flyer Xcelsior CNG buses can carry 35 seated passengers and 46 standing passengers.
- The Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 double decker buses can carry 80 seated passengers and 24 standing passengers.
This brings the total number of CNG buses operating in the Victoria Regional Transit System to 101. The acquisition of CNG buses is part of BC Transit’s Low Carbon Fleet Program which strives towards a cleaner, greener fleet by 2040. This program supports provincial targets for greenhouse gas emissions and aligns with CleanBC’s climate action goals. BC Transit also has CNG buses operating in the Central Fraser Valley, Kamloops, Regional District of Nanaimo and Resort Municipality of Whistler.
With this latest fleet arrival, Victoria now has 75 double decker buses operating in the regional system. Double decker buses contribute to climate action goals by having a higher capacity to transport more customers, which is important for heavily congested transportation corridors like the Westshore to downtown. BC Transit expects double decker battery electric buses to be part of future fleet replacement cycles.
The total investment for the 44 buses was just over $34.5 million. Funding was cost shared through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), where eligible costs for infrastructure and fleet investments are shared between the Governments of Canada, the Province, local governments, and other partners. Under this funding partnership, the Government of Canada contributed more than $13.7 million, the Province contributed approximately $13.8 million, and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission funded the remaining, approximately $6.9 million.