Victoria Regional Transit System
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The Victoria Regional Transit System is the public transit provider in Greater Victoria, Sidney and Sooke in British Columbia, formerly known as the Capital Region Transit System. Transit service levels, routes, fares, and budget are determined by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. Management for whole system and operations are provided by BC Transit with input from Victoria Regional Transit Commission. Regular service is provided by BC Transit while HandyDart systems are contracted out to Transdev Canada.
The employees are represented by Unifor Local 333.
History
- February 22, 1890: National Electric Tramway and Lighting Company begins streetcar service [1]
- April 6, 1894: Company renamed Victoria Electric Railway and Lighting Company Limited [2]
- May 1, 1896: Bought by Consolidated Railway Company (owner of Mainland systems) [3]
- May 26, 1896: Streetcar involved in Collapse of Point Ellice Bridge, killing 55 passengers. Consolidated Railway Company forced into Bankrupcy as a result
- April 15, 1897: British Columbia Electric Railway Company purchases franchises systems and fleet [4]
- Late 1920s: Vancouver Island Coach Lines begins urban transit operations between Saanich and Victoria
- 1928: Blue Line Transit begins operating motor bus service between Victoria and Oak Bay
- 1928: BCER begins its motor bus route
- 1945: BCER demonstrates trolley bus technology. Motor buses are ultimately chosen to replace the street car system
- 1946: First post-war delivery of CCF/Brill gas buses arrives
- September 1946: BCER buys Blue Line Transit franchise, routes and fleet [5]
- 1948: Last Street Car service
- 1949: BCER buys VICL's Saanich transit routes. BCER operation of routes commences Spring 1950
- March 30, 1962: BCER bought by provincial Government and renamed BC Hydro and Power Authority, transit operations rebranded as BC Hydro[6]
- September 1, 1973: Victoria system becomes Capital Region Transit System [7]
- February 1974: First major service expansion since early post-war era with introduction of fastBUS routes 927 Gordon Head and 928 Majestic, and local routes 26 Crosstown and 28 Majestic
- 1975: Rural commuter services formerly operated by private operators South West Coach Lines (Western Communities and Sooke) and Pacific Commuter Ltd (Cordova Bay and Saanich Peninsula) are taken over by provincially owned Vancouver Island Transit Ltd, operated under contract by BC Hydro
- December 1975: 919 Carey and 930 Douglas fastBUS routes introduced
- 1977: 919 Carey discontinued
- April 1, 1980: BC Hydro Fleet and facilities transferred to Urban Transit Authority [8]
- January 1981: Major service expansion to Saanich Peninsula and Western Communities, replacing VITL services
- April 1, 1983: CRTS renamed Victoria Regional Transit System [9]
- 1985: Metro Transit Operating Company operations merged into BC Transit [10]
- 1992: First 40' Low Floor buses for a North American transit system introduced
- 1994: Extra transit services for 1994 Commonwealth Games provided using equipment loaned from Lower Mainland and Provincial systems
- 2000: First North American system to operate Dennis Trident 3 axle Double Decker Buses
- 2004: First Canadian system along with Kelowna Regional Transit System to operate hybrid diesel-electric buses
- March 2009: The first hybrid diesel-electric double decker in North America, 9527, enters service
- 2019: NextRide real-time bus tracking is introduced
- 2020: CNG-fueled buses are added to the Victoria fleet
- March 19, 2020: The COVID 19 pandemic results in temporary service reductions and suspensions due to lack of ridership. Rear-door boarding implemented with fare collection suspended
- April 3, 2020: Late-night service on Fridays and Saturdays temporarily suspended for routes 4, 6, 14, 15, 27, and 28 as a result of COVID 19 [11]
- June 1, 2020: Rear-door boarding discontinued and fare collection resumed
- September 7, 2020: Late-night service re-introduced [12]
Transit Centres
Current
Victoria Transit Centre (VTC)
- Years of operation: 1948-present
- 520 Gorge Road East, Victoria, BC, V8W 2P3
- Capacity: 154 Conventional Buses [13]
- Service Bays: 10 [14]
- Body and Paint Bays: 4 [15]
- Fuel types supported: Diesel; charging bays to be added in near future to support Battery-Electric Buses
- BC Transit administration offices housed on site
Langford Transit Centre (LTC)
- Years of operation: 1998-present
- 1000 Henry Eng Pl, Victoria, BC V9B 6B2
- Capacity: 140 Conventional Buses; potential for expansion to accommodate 30 additional buses [16]
- Service Bays: 10 [17]
- Refit Bays: 2 [18]
- Fuel types supported: Diesel, CNG
- Control Centre [19]
Commercial Circle Transit Centre (CTC)
- Years of Operation: 1988-present
- 4206 Commerce Circle, Victoria, BC, V8Z6N6
- Capacity: 54 Custom/Paratransit Buses [20]
- Service Bays: 2 [21]
- Fuel types supported: Diesel
- Currently used for HandyDART operations, as well as office spaces for training
Under Construction/Planned
Burnside Rd. HandyDart Centre (Under Construction)
- Currently under construction at corner of Burnside Road and Watkiss Way; due to open in 2023
- Facility will replace current HandyDart transit centre, allowing for development of new conventional transit centre at Commerce Circle and surrounding properties
Saanich Transit Centre (STC) (Planned)
- Facility for up to 144 conventional buses to be built on current site of Commercial Circle Transit Centre and adjoining lands owned by BC Transit including former Gray Line yard currently leased to Wilson's Transportation
Routes
Victoria, Saanich. UVic, Esquimalt & Oak Bay
- 1 South Oak Bay / Downtown
- 2 James Bay / South Oak Bay
- 3 James Bay / Royal Jubilee
- 4 UVic / Downtown
- 5 James Bay / Willows
- 6 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 7 UVic / Downtown
- 8 Interurban / Tillicum Centre / Oak Bay
- 9 Royal Oak Exchange / UVic
- 10 James Bay / Royal Jubilee
- 11 Tillicum Centre / UVic
- 12 University Heights / UVic
- 13 Ten Mile Point / UVic
- 14 Victoria General / UVic
- 15 Esquimalt / UVic
- 17 Cedar Hill
- 21 Interurban / Downtown
- 22 Victoria General / Hillside Centre
- 24 Cedar Hill / Tillicum Centre
- 25 Maplewood / Tillicum Centre
- 26 Dockyard / UVic
- 27 Gordon Head / Downtown
- 28 Majestic / Downtown
- 30 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 31 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 32 Cordova Bay / Royal Oak Exchange
- 35 Ridge
- 39 Westhills / Interurban / Royal Oak / UVic
West Shore
- 43 Royal Roads via Belmont Park
- 46 Dockyard / Westhills
- 47 Goldstream Meadows / Downtown
- 48 Happy Valley / Downtown
- 49 Skirt Mountain / Langford Exchange
- 51 Langford / UVic
- 52 Colwood Exchange / Bear Mountain
- 53 Victoria General Hospital / Langford Exchange
- 54 Metchosin / Langford Exchange
- 55 Happy Valley / Langford Exchange
- 57 Thetis Heights / Langford Exchange
- 58 Goldstream Meadows / Langford Exchange
- 59 Triangle Mountain / Langford Exchange
- 60 Wishart / Langford Exchange
- 61 Sooke / Langford / Downtown
- 63 Otter Point
- 64 Langford Exchange / Sooke via East Sooke and Beecher Bay
- 65 Sooke / Downtown via Westhills
- 95 Langford / Downtown Rapidbus (Blink)
Saanich Peninsula
- 70 Swartz Bay / Downtown via Highway 17
- 71 Swartz Bay / Downtown
- 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown via Saanichton
- 75 Saanichton / Royal Oak / Downtown
- 81 Brentwood / Saanichton / Sidney / Swartz Bay
- 82 Sidney / Saanichton via Stautw
- 83 Sidney / Brentwood / Royal Oak Exchange
- 85 North Saanich
- 87 Saanichton / Sidney via Dean Park
- 88 Airport / Sidney
Former
- 5 South Fairfield
- 16 Uptown / UVic
- 18 UVic
- 19 Hillside Mall
- 29 UVic
- 33 UVic
- 34 James Bay / Downtown
- 49 Langford Exch
- 50 Langford / Downtown
- 56 Thetis Heights / Langford Exchange
- 73 Swartz Bay / Downtown via West Sidney
- 76 Swartz Bay / UVic
- 86 Deep Cove / McTavish Exch
Active Roster
Conventional
HandyDART
- Operations contracted to First Transit.
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2374 | 2012 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2440 | 2013 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2458-2459, 2479, 2481-2482, 2536, 2547, 2554, 2557 |
2014 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L |
| ||
2558, 2611-2614, 2616 | 2015 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2631-2636 | 2016 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2688-2700 | 2020 | Chevrolet Girardin |
4500 Micro Bird/G5 |
GMC Vortec 6.0L | |||
2757-2772 | 2021 | Chevrolet Girardin |
4500 Micro Bird/G5 |
GMC Vortec 6.0L | |||
2787-2790 | 2021 | Ford Girardin |
T-350 Micro Bird MB-II |
Ford 3.7L gasoline |
On Order
Conventional
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|
Leased/Demonstrator Roster
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission/Power Delivery System | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7118 | 1997 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7119 | 1998 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R |
| |
7120 | 1998 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7122 | 1997 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7130 | 2009 | Yaxing | JS6830GHDP | Cummins ISB | ZF 6HP504C |
| |
7132 | 2013 | New Flyer | MiDi 35' | Cummins ISB6.7 | Allison B300R |
| |
9092 | 2016 | BYD | K9 | BYD TYC90A 180 kW | BYD FADMD7315 Lithium iron phosphate batteries |
| |
9093 | 2022 | Proterra | ZX5 |
| |||
9601 | 2008 | New Flyer | H40LFR | Siemens ELFA 85 kW | Ballard HD6 150 kW fuel cell hybrid system |
|
Transferred/Retired Roster
Conventional
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0104-0107 0110 0112 |
2001 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
0221-0230 0236-0237 |
2002 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
600-609 | 1990 | OBI | Orion V 05.501 |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 |
| |
610 | 1991 | OBI | Orion V 05.501 |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 |
| |
746-753 | 1963 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71 | Allison VH |
| |
754-761 | 1965 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71 | Allison VH |
| |
762-771 | 1966 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
772-779 | 1969 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
780-781 | 1970 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
782-784 | 1970 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
785-789 | 1972 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
787-793 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
790-794 | 1973 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
795-799 | 1973 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
800-816 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
817-826 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
827-831 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
832-834 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
835-836 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
837-865 | 1981 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 |
| |
866-879 | 1982 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 |
| |
900 | 1963 | GMC | TDH-5303 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
902-904 906-907 909 911 |
1964 | GMC | TDH-5303 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
920-928 | 1988 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | ||
929-940 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | ||
941-956 | 1991 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison VR731 | ||
950-953 | 1967 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 8V71N | Spicer 4-speed manual |
| |
954-955 | 1968 | GMC | S8M-5303A New Look |
Detroit Diesel 8V71N | Spicer 4-speed manual |
| |
956-958 | 1964 | GMC | SDH-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
959-960 | 1965 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
6V71N | Spicer 4 speed manual |
| |
961 | 1966 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Spicer 4 speed manual |
| |
959-962 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
963-967 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
968-972 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
973-975 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
1123, 1137 | 2017 | New Flyer | XN40 | Cummins Westport ISL-G | Voith D864.5 | ||
1162 | 2019 | New Flyer | XN40 | Cummins Westport L9N | Voith D864.6 | ||
4058 4060-4061 |
2017 | Grande West | Vicinity 30' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
4062-4067 | 2017 | Grande West | Vicinity 30' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 | ||
4071-4072 | 2018 | Grande West | Vicinity 30' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
4215 | 2020 | Grande West | Vicinity 30' CNG | Cummins B6.7N | Voith DIWA.6 | ||
4400 | 2017 | Grande West | Vicinity 35' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
4456-4464 | 2018 | Grande West | Vicinity 35' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
6000 6002-6004 6006-6012 |
2017 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins L9 | Voith D864.5 | ||
8001-8009 | 1991 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8010-8025 | 1992 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8026-8028 | 1993 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8029-8033 | 1992 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8034-8048 | 1994 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
8049-8065 8070 8072, 8077-8079 8082 8084, 8086-8090 8092 |
1995 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
8095-8117 | 1996 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
8901-8904 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
8905-8910 | 1987 | GMDD | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
8911-8915 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
9001-9010 | 2000 | Dennis Duple Metsec |
Trident DM5000 |
Cummins ISM | Voith D864.3E | ||
9021-9039 | 2002 | TransBus | Trident DM5000 |
Cummins ISM | Voith D864.3E | ||
9051-9078 | 2000 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
9081-9085 | 2001 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E | ||
9088 9090-9091 |
2000 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
9101-9106 | 2005 | New Flyer | DE40LF | Cummins ISL | GM-Allison EP40 hybrid System |
| |
9211-9220 9223 |
2006 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 | ||
9245-9254 9261 |
2007 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 | ||
9319-9339, 9354, 9361, 9367, 9373, 9380, 9386, 9389, 9392, 9397-9398, 9400-9402, 9416 |
2009 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 |
| |
9463-9466, 9478-9479, 9482 | 2015 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL9 | Voith D864.5 | ||
9507, 9523 | 2008 | Alexander Dennis | Enviro500 | Cummins ISM | Voith D864.5 | ||
9527 | 2008 | Alexander Dennis | Enviro500H | Cummins ISL | GM-Allison EP40 hybrid System |
||
9702-9706 9734 9737 9746 9748 |
1996-1997 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
9750-9760 | 1995-1996 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R |
| |
9815-9828 | 1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
9831-9839 9842-9843 9845-9852 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
9861-9864 9866-9868 9870-9871 9873-9877 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
9881-9891 | 1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
Community Shuttle
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C971-C974 | 2003 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
| |||
2001-2006 | 2005 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
||||
2040, 2045, 2058-2063 |
2006 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
| |||
2077-2084 | 2007 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
||||
2122-2129, 2132-2133 | 2008 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
| |||
2196 | 2009 | Ford CBB |
E-450 Polar |
| |||
2334-2339, 2371 | 2012 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2401-2402, 2405-2409, 2413-2417, 2423-2424 | 2013 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L |
| ||
2490-2495, 2502-2508, 2534-2535 | 2014 | Chevrolet ARBOC |
4500 SOM28D |
GMC Duramax 6.6L |
|
HandyDART
References
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia,All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Daily Colonist, page 1, Sept 5 1946, Daily Colonist, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia,All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Victoria, British Columbia, All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt, retrieved October 20, 2018
- ↑ Annual Spring Service Change, BC Transit, published April 1, 2020
- ↑ Fall service changes head to the Victoria Regional Transit System, BC Transit, published August 24, 2020
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Regional Transit System Facility Master Plan Feb. 2022
- ↑ Electric buses coming to Victoria, BC Transit, retrieved August 20, 2022