Starting September 4th, students, visitors, and anyone travelling to and from Victoria International Airport will be able to take advantage of new routes and service expansions by BC Transit.
In response to the demand for direct service to the airport, the company has introduced route 87 (Sidney/Dean Park via Airport) and expansions to route 88 (Airport/Sidney).
Travellers will be able to ride route 72 Swartz Bay/Downtown to the McTavish Exchange, and then transfer to one of these two new buses for a direct ride to the airport within five minutes of arrival at the Exchange.
Between these two buses, the airport will be frequented by BC Transit every 30 minutes on weekdays, and every hour on weekends.
More big changes
Another notable addition is the introduction of a new crosstown route connecting the University of Victoria to both Camosun College campuses (Lansdowne and Interurban).
The 9 (UVic/Royal Oak via Gorge/Hillside) was added in response to the increasing number of students registered at Camosun College Interurban Campus, and the trip schedule will be designed to line up with class start times.
“People who live, study and visit Victoria will benefit tremendously from these service expansions that will enhance the transit experience by getting people to where they need to go,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claire Trevena.
“Our government is working hard to improve the services people rely on, and establishing these bus routes is a step in the right direction.”
Other than that, the company is introducing the following expansions:
- Routes 81 Brentwood/Sidney/Swartz Bay and 82 Saanichton/Sidney via Stautw will now travel along Lochside Drive all the way to Sidney
- Route 83 Royal Oak/Sidney will now continue on West Saanich Road, past the airport, and turn onto Mills Road to head towards Sidney
- Route 85 North Saanich will now offer service on weekends
Facilitated by funding from the province and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, BC Transit has added 10,000 new service hours and four new buses to the Victoria Regional Transit System in order to make these changes happen.
 and expansions to route 88 (Airport/Sidney).){kind=link}