Whistler's winter transit service is set to start on Saturday, Dec. 7, a full eight days earlier than last year.
The earlier start is thanks to a 500-service-hour expansion, which will also add eight additional trips for the route 10 Valley Express, which serves customers travelling between neighbourhoods north and south of Whistler Village.
The Whistler Transit System now has a total of 72,700 service hours and 31 buses, all of which run on compressed natural gas.
Looking to 2020, BC Transit and the RMOW will monitor the 10 Valley Express during the winter with an eye to increasing service during the spring, summer and fall.
The total cost of the Whistler Transit System for the upcoming fiscal year will be $11.8 million, up $146,973 from the year before—BC Transit contributes $4.6 million, while the RMOW's share amounts to $4.1 million after revenue is factored in (an increase of $32,134 over last year).
The RMOW's share of costs associated with the added hours comes from revenue generated by pay parking in Day Lots 1 to 5.
