The first of 11 new double-decker buses will enter service in Victoria on Wednesday.
BC Transit says the first Enviro500 bus will enter limited service tomorrow while the remainder will roll out over the coming weeks.
Each bus has the capacity to seat 89 passengers, with room for an additional 15 standing passengers on the lower level.
According to BC Transit, the new fleet of buses will feature USB ports at each seat to charge mobile devices and a monitor at the bottom of the stairs so passengers can view seating availability on the upper deck before heading up the stairs.
Additionally, the new double-decker buses will have
- new Q’POD 3-point technology integrated wheelchair securement system
- vinyl seating fabric that is easy to clean and resists dirt and contaminants
- side-mounted ‘docking lights’, which are designed to illuminate the bus stop area and increase safety for boarding and exiting passengers
The double-decker buses will be replacing the first high-capacity buses that entered service in the Victoria Regional Transit System in 2000.
According to BC Transit, the cost of the replacement project was approximately $15.5 million, with the federal and provincial governments each covering 40 per cent of the cost and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission covering the remaining 20 per cent.
