The service implementation date of the Malahat Connector Service is
October 20, 2008, made possible by a 100% operating contribution from the provincial government for the period of October 20 – December 31, 2008, at which time the CVRD and VRTC will assume responsibility for the standard local share of costs.
Route 66 Duncan-Victoria Connector will make three trips in the AM peak to Victoria and three trips to Duncan in the PM peak.
Route 99 Shawnigan-Victoria Connector will make three trips in the AM peak to Victoria and three trips to Shawnigan in the PM peak
Both routes will route via Hwy 1 and Douglas to the Victoria Regional Transit System's terminus for suburban buses on Superior at Government (same terminus used for the Saanich Peninsula and Sooke services).
Between trips, all six buses will be stored at Ogden Point. The drivers will be driven back to Duncan via Van, and then back to Victoria in the afternoon for the return trips.
Some observations:
Seems a waste to park the buses during the day, but I assume there are union issues in the Victoria system that prevents the buses and drivers being used in Victoria.
I would have liked to see some integration with the existing Greyhound service by including those trips in the schedules and offering fare tickets priced the same as the BC Transit service - similar to the arrangement on the Sea-to-sky Transit System connecting Squamish and Whistler.
Ticket price is $8.00 to Duncan (60km) and $6.00 to Shawingan/Mill Bay (45km) - this seems excessive given that trips on the Victoria System from Victoria to Swartz Bay (32km) and to Sooke (45km) are $2.25.
Inbound buses will be discharge only in Greater Victoria and outbound will be pick-up only.
Implementation Report here
http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic...mtg-ra-507.pdf
Malahat Connector Website here
http://www.transitbc.com/regions/vic...mtg-ra-505.pdf