A trio of new buses have been deployed along B.C. Transit's Highway 16 services between Prince George and Smithers.
The 2017 International ElDorado 320 AeroElite can hold up to 30 passengers, 10 more than their predecessors. With all mobility aid positions in use, capacity will be 24 passengers (20 seated and four mobility aids).
The service has proven popular since it was launched in June 2017. In the 10 months since then, Route 161 (Burns Lake-Prince George) carried 2,546 passengers and Route 162 (Burns Lake-Smithers) drew 1,064 passengers.
"The growing demand shows the Highway 16 service to be a significant component to transportation solutions for residents of the region," B.C. Transit interim president and CEO Erinn Pinkerton said in a statement issued this week. "These new, higher capacity buses are essential in connecting people and communities efficiently and effectively along these routes."
Each of the buses cost $260,000. They feature a overhead parcel racks for small packages, high floor design, automatic passenger counter units and a wheelchair lift at the rear of the bus. Also on these buses are convenient overhead parcel racks for passengers to use for small packages.
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The one-way fare on each of these routes is $5. Route 161 runs Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and Route 162 operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
There are also services from Smithers to Terrace. For more details visit BCTransit.com/Bulkley-Nechako.
Greyhound Canada's service along Highway 16, meanwhile, ends May 31.
