After a shaky start following the change to Revelstoke’s bus services in late 2012, rider numbers appear to be improving.
A longer, more roundabout route system was replaced with a more direct three-route system and in the following year costs were reportedly up and rider numbers were down.
But the transit system last year experienced a 15% increase in ridership over 2013, which was a small increase over rider numbers in 2012 according to a report by director of community economic development Alan Mason. The report was presented at Revelstoke City Council’s Feb. 10 meeting.
The total operating cost for our transit service during 2013-14 was $589,502. The city pays 31% or $182,746 and $93,000 of that is a contribution from the federal gas tax fund.
“From a cost perspective, I would suggest a contribution of $90,746 of taxpayers’ money to a service that costs $589,502 to deliver is a good return on investment for the city,” Mason said in the report.
“The city is providing a service to residents who require the service to help them get around the community, e.g. seniors, those with mobility challenges, and those residents make good use of the service.”
Some tweaks to the system resulted in big changes. Revisions to the handyDART bus protocol caused a jump of nearly 1,000 riders from 1,527 in 2013 to 2,503 in 2014.
In terms of cost recovery, Revelstoke is operating in the upper half of 36 other local regional communities.
Council staff will work with the Chamber of Commerce, schools and other groups to continue to promote the use of the transit system.
There was some discussion about other improvements, but council opted to receive the report for information.
Click here to view the full report.
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