Council frustrated over lack of provincial investment in Kamloops Transit

Apr 15, 2026 | 4:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops will not be seeing an expansion of transit hours this year, as BC Transit has signaled its operating budget from the province will not be sufficient to execute that plan.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting to expand service in Kamloops,” said Councillor Nancy Bepple Tuesday (April 14). “Budget for our transit is only going up 2 per cent a year, which means actually we are going backward because our population is growing.”

Kamloops council had previously allocated more than $2 million for the expansion that would have seen an additional 31,000 transit hours added in January of next year. On Tuesday, council approved a motion to send a letter outlining their displeasure with the decision.

“A profound amount of staff time and council time was spent considering these hours,” said Councillor Katie Neustaeter. “And I also find it equally concerning that there is a flippant attitude toward the capacity that it takes to move forward initiatives that are this large and that our community comes to depend on these decisions and these hours. It also impacts our budget. I mean, finance spent a significant time layering this cost in and planning for it.”

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The city did adjust the budget when the funding was stripped, ensuring it wouldn’t impact the taxation. The hope from the city was to expand service throughout the community including to TRU and along Ord Road for better connection to the Kamloops Airport.

“I think we became aware through our advocacy, one of the things we should probably be doing as some other municipalities are doing is getting on the standing select committee and making a petition in June of this year. But I think [Wednesday] might be the deadline to have an application to be on that meeting that will be held in Kamloops,” added Councillor Stephen Karpuk. “I think this would be another reason where we need to step up and highlight that point.”

by Michael Reeve

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Council frustrated over lack of provincial investment in Kamloops Transit

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