Transit COVID-19 Update
March 27, 2020 Update
BC Transit is taking additional measures to support physical distancing by reducing the number of passengers onboard BC Transit buses.
For more information:
March 26, 2020 - Schedule Changes
BC Transit and the City of Prince George are making some schedule changes effective
Sunday, March 29 to allow for physical distancing:
- Implementing summer service.
- Not running trips marked with an "X" or "U".
- Discontinuing the 12, 17, 18, 96, and 97.
- Reducing frequency and removing late-night trips on the 15.
- Reducing frequency on the 55.
For schedule information:
March 19, 2020 - Rear Door-Only Bus Entry
BC Transit is taking public safety measures to create social distancing conditions by minimizing interaction between bus operators and customers.
Effective
March 21, 2020, in Prince George:
- Customers must enter and exit buses by the rear door.
- Passengers who need to use the ramp or other accessibility features can continue to use the front door.
- Buses - including handyDART - will be free to ride.
For more information:
General Transit Information & Alerts
Alerts and notifications on transit service, permanent or temporary route changes, and other related announcements may be found on BC Transit's website.
Transit Travel Training Guide
A Travel Training Guide is available to help first-time riders get started on navigating the transit system. The Guide includes:
- Safety and travel tips and accessibility information.
- Important contact numbers.
- Trip planning worksheets.
- Locations where residents may purchase monthly transit passes.
- Tutorials on how to recognise bus stops, route numbers, and names, how to signal a stop, and more.
For more information:
BC Transit Trip Planner
BC Transit offers a Trip Planner tool to help riders plan simple, single-stop trips or complex journeys around Prince George. In addition, Prince George Transit's schedules and maps can also be found on the BC Transit website. A Transit Rider's guide is also available as a one-stop for transit users.
handyDART
The handyDART is a door-to-door, shared transit service for people with permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent them from using regular transit services without assistance. The handyDART picks passengers up from and drops them off at accessible points.
Transit Fares
Since bus drivers do not carry change, please ensure cash fares are paid in the exact amount. Riders may also purchase tickets, day passes, monthly passes, semester passes (students up to Grade 12 only), or U-Passes (post-secondary students only) from select vendors. Children four (4) years of age and under ride free when accompanied by an adult.
NOTE: Fare prices will change September 1, 2019.
Transit Future Plan
BC Transit, in collaboration with the City of Prince George, conducted a 25-year Transit Future Plan for PG that envisions what the Prince George transit network should look like 25 years from now. The Plan describes services, infrastructure, and investments needed to reach its goals and was designed to support local community objectives such as strengthening the link between transportation and land use to encourage sustainable growth.
In 2018, a progress report on the status of implementation to-date was provided for three (3) plans, including Prince George's Transit Future Plan.
Service Updates
Service Expansion
City of Prince George Council approved a Transit Expansion Initiatives through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) over the next three years for our community (2020 to 2022).
For more information on Council's approval of the MOU:
Key future changes approved in principle through MOU (budgetary approval through Province still required) include:
- Custom (HandyDART) - Expand hours by means of supplemental services:
- April 2020 - Supplemental service hours for weekdays.
- April 2021 - Supplemental service hours for weekends.
- Conventional System:
- September 2020 - 4,000 Peak Service expansion hours including:
- Downtown to UNBC - New limited stop round trips.
- Downtown to CNC via Spruceland - New limited stop round trips.
- Additional off peak service improvements as determined.
- September 2022 - 5,000 Service Hours for Continued Frequent Transit Network Corridor Development.
2019 Service Expansion and Fare Change
Fare prices will change September 1, 2019 along with a service expansion on September 3, 2019.
For more information on Council's approval of the fare change:
Service hours will be extended for the Spruceland, Hart, and Queensway areas in the fall and include:
Extended service for route 91 Spruceland/Hart until 8:00pm on weekdays and Saturdays.
Extended service for route 46 Queensway until 7:30pm on Sundays.
Route 46 will now use a conventional-sized bus to accommodate more passengers.
The family travel program will also change:
Up to four children (12 years and under) can ride free Saturdays and Sundays (previously was two).
The family travel program is available to parents or guardians with a valid monthly pass, DayPASS, ProPASS, U-PASS or BC Bus Pass.
The fare change will also introduce the DayPASS program.
DayPASS offers unlimited travel on the day of purchase.
Buy DayPASSes onboard the bus for $5.00 or exchange two bus tickets for one.
DayPASS will decrease adult and discount prices by $1.25 and $0.25 respectively to $5.00.
Youth and senior single ticket prices will increase by $0.50 to $2.50, adult monthly passes will increase by $2.50 to $60, youth and student monthly passes will increase by $2.00 to $50.00, and semester passes will increase by $10.00 to $135.00.
Bus drivers will no longer issue transfers.
2017 Service Update
City of Prince George Council approved 2,500 expansion hours initiated in Fall 2017. Based on recommendations from the Transit Future Plan and over two years of consultation, this included:
- Increasing service hours on Sunday.
- A new route #10 Spruceland Connector to downtown.
- Increasing frequency on Saturdays for the Route #15 and #88/89.
- Routing and schedule changes for #1 Heritage.
- Minor routing changes to routes #46/47 and 88/89.
- Sunday-level service on most statutory holidays and other minor schedule changes.
Free and Discounted Fares
Council approved a Free Transit Fare Policy in July 2017 that provides free rides on Prince George's transit system on the following special days or events.
Special Days
Clean Air Day
Clean Air Day is celebrated on Wednesday during Environment Week in June. Residents can ride the bus for free on Clean Air Day to help improve local air quality. Leave cars at home, ride around Prince George for free, and help keep the air clean.
General Election Days
Transit is free for all riders on general voting days for local elections, referendum/assent voting, Federal and Provincial elections, and by-elections.
Note: Free fares to not apply for advanced voting days.
Bike to School and Work Week
Registered Bike to School and Work Week participants can show bus drivers their helmets during Bike to Work Week and ride transit for free. Residents who have a long commute can still participate by using transit for part of their trip.
National Seniors' Day
Fares will be free for residents 65+ years of age with a valid ID every October 1. Seniors are encouraged to use the transit system to expand their mobility options and new riders are encouraged to use the Transit Travel Training Guide as an introduction to the PG transit network which was developed with feedback from seniors in our community.
Events and Class Rides
Food for Fare
Over three days in December, residents can donate a non-perishable food item when boarding a bus to ride for free. All donations go to local community food banks. Information on valid Food for Fare days in December may be fun on BC Transit's Prince George Alerts section.
Free Fares for Class Rides
The City of Prince George is happy to announce the Free Fare for Class Rides program. Council approved the program to waive fares for classes K-12 that express interest in using the transit system for field trips (destinations must be located on transit routes).
- Teachers must submit an application for their class a minimum of two (2) weeks before the trip.
- Once approved, the class receives a letter allowing them to use the transit system for free on the day of the trip.
- An approved class must travel together.
- Each class can only apply to the program twice in a school year.
- A maximum of thirty-five (35) people can travel on any one trip (including adult helpers).
- Classes must travel on a regular scheduled Prince George Transit route during the off-peak hours of 9:00am to 2:00pm.
To apply for free class ride fares that meet the above noted criteria,
please use application below:
Bus Stops, Shelters and Benches
To report bus shelters, benches, or bus stops in need of maintenance or repairs or to submit a request for a new bus stop location, contact the City Service Centre by phone or by email.
Phone: 311
Email: 311@princegeorge.ca
Contacting BC Transit
Get in touch with BC Transit to offer compliments, suggestions, or to report concerns. Please include details when reporting issues including information such as route numbers, route names, and relevant locations.