The handyDart service in Quesnel is being expanded.
Jamie Weiss, Senior Media Relations and Public Affairs Advisor, says an extra hour will soon be available.
“Effective September 1st handyDart customers will have more options as the service is being expanded out on weekdays. Right now handyDart service is operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday, but effective September 1st it will be operating from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
Weiss says it is an important service.
“For those that don’t know handyDart is just one of those really important services to the community. It provides hands on door to door service for people that can’t utilize conventional transit either for short term or long term periods, so it really does create that connection for people in their community.”
Weiss says they review services on an ongoing basis.
“We’re always working hard to expand service and feel needs and fill gaps in the community, and for handyDart customers, of course it is a crucial service, and we’re really happy to be adding this service and we will continue to look for ways to expand service both for handyDart customers and conventional transit users in Quesnel.”
He says the expansion will cost just over 60 thousand dollars.
“The net municipal share that the City of Quesnel is providing is just under 25 thousand dollars. But it’s also important to remember that our local government partners, with our funding model, they get all fare revenue which helps offset the cost of public transit, so while the funding output at the front might be close to 50-50, that net revenue generated from fares goes back to the local government to help offset their cost.”
Weiss says the numbers for handyDart have increased over the years.
484 people used it in Quesnel in 2023, up from 464 in 2022.
