Chilliwack Increases Transit Ridership by 19%

Friday, March 14, 2014

The City of Chilliwack, British Columbia has expanded its conventional transit system to deliver improved service to more riders.

By Rod Sanderson, Manager, Transportation and Drainage, City of Chilliwack

As a way to encourage public transit use, Chilliwack residents can now purchase transit tickets and bus passes from the comfort of their own homes. This strategy has helped Chilliwack achieve a 19% ridership increase, from 330,000 riders in 2012 to 394,000 in 2013; as well as 64,800 new transit riders. Chilliwack is the first BC Transit community to offer online fare transactions.

"We are pleased to offer expanded transit services for the people of Chilliwack," said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. "With the ability to buy tickets and passes online, the addition of new routes, holiday service and later service for six nights, it will be easier than ever for people to choose public transit in Chilliwack.”

The Chilliwack Transit System is funded and operated as a partnership between the City and the provincial crown agency, BC Transit. The province covers about 50% of the cost, the City 20% and rider fares cover approximately 30%.  Chilliwack Transit provides well over 400,000 rides per year.

“We are excited to partner with the City of Chilliwack to expand and improve the transit system for our Chilliwack customers,” said BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “The introduction of online fare products, along with these system improvements, will make the transit system more efficient and effective.”

Service has been concentrated onto major community routes with increased frequency to attract choice riders. The City of Chilliwack and BC Transit added an extra 7,500 annual service hours to the local transit network. The largest expansion in the history of Chilliwack Transit took effect September 1, 2013.

The expansion saw the introduction of two new routes bringing transit services closer to residential areas, as well as longer service hours.

The 2013 Chilliwack marketing campaign included advertisements inside buses, on its website and in local newspapers; the ad included a list of local retailers where transit products could be purchased, as well as contact details for new online and telephone purchase options.

Other small municipalities might consider implementing a similar online transit purchasing program to increase transit ridership in their community.

 


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