A bus connecting Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley will launch on April 6.
The Fraser Valley Express will make stops in Chilliwack at the Lickman Park and Ride, Vedder Road and Luckakuck Way, and in downtown Chilliwack. In Abbotsford, the bus will stop at the McCallum park and ride and Highstreet Shopping Centre, and in Langley at Carvolth Exchange.
Barclay Pitkethly, director of regional programs at the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), spoke to council on Monday about the plans for the new bus.
On weekdays, there will be 17 round trips, with the first westbound trip starting at 5:15 a.m. and the last eastbound trip at 9:05 p.m. On Saturdays, there will be four round trips, with the first westbound trip at 9 a.m. and the last eastbound trip at 6:30 p.m.
Originally they did not plan to have a stop at Highstreet Shopping Centre “due to the fairly complex configuration of the road system there,” but there was a high demand from those who were surveyed about the project, he said. As the service continues, they will consider other stops, such as at Whatcom Road, he said.
The rate will be set at $5 for a ticket and free for people eight years and under. A book of 10 tickets will cost $45, and an adult monthly pass will be $100 and a student/senior monthly pass will cost $85.
Abbotsford and Chilliwack will each pay for part of the service, with Abbotsford’s projected cost at $411,897 and Chilliwack’s at $233,709. BC Transit will contribute $704,813.
