RDN Transit

Starting January 5, 2025, with the winter transit schedule change-over, an dditional 8,700 service hours will be implemented into the transit timetables to improve directness, simplify routing, and better align service levels with ridership and demand. Here is a breakdown of the changes:

• Route 50 (To Downtown, To Woodgrove) will change to Route 1 Nanaimo Rapid Line (To Downtown, To Woodgrove) to align with Strategy 1 of the Transit Redevelopment Strategy (Rapid Line Pre-Development):
  • 5,000 hours will be used to increase service on the Route 1 (former Route 50).
  • To facilitate this change, the current Route 1 (To Country Club, To Downtown) will change its name to Route 72 (To Country Club, To Downtown).

• Route 91 Intercity (To Parksville/Qualicum Beach, To Woodgrove) will change to Route 9 Intercity Line (To Parksville/Qualicum Beach, To Woodgrove) to align with Strategy 3 of the Transit Redevelopment Strategy (Route 9 Intercity Schedule Adjustments and Targeted Frequency Increases):
  • 2,700 hours will be used to ensure service is more consistent throughout day.
  • Service will also start earlier in the morning to facilitate commuter travel.
  • Most Route 9 trips will be connected to Route 1 Nanaimo Rapid Line (former Route 50) at Woodgrove Centre without the need to physically transfer buses.

• Route 11 Lantzville (To Lantzville, To Woodgrove) will change to Route 31 Lantzville (To Lantzville, To Woodgrove) to align with Strategy 4 of the Transit Redevelopment Strategy (Lantzville Restructuring + Additional Service):
  • 1,000 hours will be used to restructure the Lantzville route to become the 31 Lantzville, extending service north to the Snaw-Naw-As area. In future phases, the route will have further route adjustments that focus on higher ridership and densifying areas of the community.

Effective March 31st, with the 2024 Spring Schedule change-over, an additional stop will been added to 70 NCX route in Oyster Bay, improving connectivity to the growing community. This new stop is a collaborative effort between Stz’uminus First Nation, Indigenous Services Canada, BC Transit, Cowichan Valley Regional District, and the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Proposed Changes

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), in collaboration with BC Transit, is proposing a cost-neutral adjustment to Route 25 Ferry Shuttle to extend service to the Nanaimo Port Authority at 100 Port Way. The purpose of this adjustment is to support the growing community of Nanaimo and to provide transportation to the newly developed "Hullo" passenger ferry, which launched in Fall 2023. The new passenger ferry travels between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo. The new routing is reflective of the strategic direction established within Nanaimo's Transit Redevelopment Strategy. Here are the key changes:

• New service will be added to the Nanaimo Port Authority to serve the passenger ferry terminal (Hullo).
• Route 25 Ferry Shuttle will discontinue its service to Vancouver Island University.
• These changes will come into effect on January 7, 2024.
• Additional information on route changes to VIU and other key destinations can be found at bctransit.com/nanaimo.
• Service levels will remain the same for better service reliability.

Do you use Route 25 to get Downtown, to Woodgrove or to the University? Please see the Bus Stop List to lookup your bus stop and what options you have. Each bus stop corresponds with one on this map, in case you're not sure which stop you use!

For more information about the proposed changes to the Route 25 Ferry Shuttle, visit: engage.bctransit.com/nanaimo2024.

How Is Transit Funded In The RDN?

The RDN transit system is funded using a combination of provincial funding through BC Transit, local property taxes, passenger fares and advertising revenue.

Who Makes The Decisions?

Decisions on fares, routes and service levels are made by the RDN Board and the transit Select Committee based on information provided by BC Transit, RDN staff, and the public.

How Can I Have A Say?

Proposed service expansion and associated services changes are presented to the Transit Select Committee and then to the RDN Board for approval. If you would like to make a presentation to the Transit Select Committee, please go to the Appearing as a Delegation page and fill out the Delegation Request Form.

Also, keep your eye out on this page for opportunities to provide feedback on the various Transit related topics and projects.

What Are The Various Transit Service Levels?

In the RDN the various service levels are:

• Regular Service: Monday to Friday service as shown in Rider's Guide.
• Saturday Level Service: Saturday service as shown in Rider's Guide.
• Sunday Level Service: Sunday service as shown in Rider's Guide.
• Holiday Level Service: Typically on statutory holidays, transit service operates on Sunday level service. Check out our website events calendar, click on the holiday date to see our service level.

Stay up-to-date for route changes or for holiday services levels by following us on Twitter.

How Do I Retrieve A Lost Item?

If you have lost something on board one of our buses you can contact us and we will check our lost & found inventory to try and re-connect you with your missing item.

All lost and found items are held for a maximum of 30 days. After 30 days items are donated to charitable organizations.

BC Transit, the Cowichan Valley Regional District, (CVRD) and the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) are looking for your feedback about Transit service between Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley (and points in between).

The need for interregional transit service between Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley was identified in the Regional District of Nanaimo Transit Future Plan (2014), the Cowichan Valley Region Transit Future Plan (2012), and the South Nanaimo Local Area Transit Plan (2019).

In order to make the new route a reality, we need your input on:

• the need for an interregional route
• the preferred start and end place of the route
• preferred trip times
• service span (how early and late it should run)
• fares

How to Take Part

Take the survey

Help us determine the need for the route, where and when it should run, and how you would use it!

Stay in touch

Contact Us on the form found on the project site or visit the CVRD Transit Future page or the RDN Transit Future page for project updates.

RDN Transit will be expanding it's service in January 2020 by 5,900 hours!

The hours will address several transit priorities, some from the South Nanaimo Local Area Transit Plan and others from the main Transit Priority List. The following improvements will be implemented:

1. Provide Sunday/holiday level service on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Years Day;
2. Restructure Route 7 to travel between Downtown and Cinnabar with no routing to Cedar;
3. Creation of Route 8 between Cedar and VIU;
4. Creation of Route 78 between Downtown and Cassidy/Nanaimo Airport;
5. Restructure of Route 30 to reflect usage patterns;
6. Additional hours to Route 40.
   
   This expansion will come into effect on January 5, 2020.