During today’s meeting, Whistler Council is set to discuss significant improvements to the local transit system as part of a three-year expansion plan. The proposed Whistler Three-Year Transit Expansion Plan, covering 2025/26 to 2027/28, aims to increase service hours, add new vehicles, and enhance transit services throughout the community.
The first phase of the plan, set for 2025/26, includes an additional 6,000 service hours and one new vehicle for Routes 21 and 30, which will cost RMOW just under $500,000. A second phase, scheduled for early 2026, proposes further enhancements to Route 10, adding four new vehicles at an estimated cost of $1.15 million. These expansions are part of ongoing efforts to address increasing transit demand and improve service efficiency.
In the second and third years of the plan, additional vehicles will be introduced to boost peak winter service on routes south of the Village and reintroduce transit on Alta Lake Road. These measures aim to meet the growing needs of residents and visitors, particularly during the busy winter season. The proposed expansions align with the 2022 Whistler Transit Future Action Plan (TFAP) recommendations.
The council will also review plans to update the plan in 2025/26, which will guide future expansions from 2026 through 2030. RMOW staff recommend proceeding with year-one service expansions but suggests that further expansions be based on the updated transit plan to confirm priorities and ensure the system is optimized.
Additionally, the Council will be asked to approve a review of the current fare structure, with recommendations expected in 2025.