District of Clearwater, Thompson Nicola Regional District and BC Transit announced recently that the Valley Connector bus service to Kamloops will double in 2014 – up from one round trip a week to two.
Starting Jan. 7, 2014 transit service between Clearwater and Kamloops will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Previously, the bus service to Kamloops and back was available on Thursdays only.
Reason for the increased service was high demand. Cost of the increase was put at $19,000.
Having two trips per week will make making medical appointments much easier, Mayor John Harwood noted during Clearwater town council's Dec. 17 meeting.
Local residents will now be able to take the bus to Kamloops on Tuesday, stay over Wednesday, and then return on Thursday.
Many motels near Royal Inland Hospital offer inexpensive accommodation, he said.
Harwood noted that many residents of Blue River also appreciate the Valley Connector service. They do not necessarily use it to travel to Kamloops, he said. Often they only go as far as Clearwater for shopping or medical appointments.
The bus makes the trip from Blue River to Kamloops and back once a month. The added run on Tuesdays will be Clearwater to Kamloops only.
Customers must book their trips at least 24 hours in advance.
For more information on transit schedules, fares and routes in Clearwater, please consult www.bctransit.com/regions/clr or call customer service at 250.674.3935.