West Coast Transit Service
Welcome to West Coast Transit!
This regional interim service is being provided by the ACRD in collaboration with its West Coast Committee member First Nations, municipalities, and agencies. The service connects the District of Tofino, the District of Ucluelet, the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government community of hitac̓u, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation communities of Ty-Histanis and Esowista, ACRD Electoral Area "C", and Parks Canada areas.West Coast Transit will run seven days a week, except for statutory holidays. Residents of all ages are encouraged to utilize this service to access employment, services, shopping, and recreational opportunities, or however else public transportation may suit your lifestyle. The service is designed as an introductory level of transit service to promote enhanced regional connectivity on the West Coast. At this time, surf boards are unable to be transported on the bus.
Schedule change coming - effective July 29!
Beginning on July 29, the West Coast Transit schedule will change. The 6:30 and 9:30 am round trips from Ucluelet will be removed and replaced by additional round trips leaving Ucluelet at 10:30 and 11:30 am, respectively. These changes address some labour challenges and will improve the system’s reliability and efficiency. The revised schedule can be viewed HERE, but will not be in place until the end of the month.Here's some important information to keep you informed:
- WCT Revised Schedule as of July 29, 2024
- Rider's Guide as of July 29, 2024
- WCT Transit 101 - How to Guide
- WCT Implementation Poster
- F1166 Binder West Coast Transportation Fees and Charges, 2024
What is West Coast Transit?
The implementation of a BC Transit-administered service on the West Coast has been delayed due to a lack of the provincial share of funding. The ACRD has developed an interim public transit service that will be implemented until such time that the provincial government can contribute funding.
This interim transit service is locally funded and was developed with the support and involvement of key community transportation, health, and hospitality groups in the area. The level of service provided is limited by the resources available, however, this introductory level of service has been designed to meet the basic travel needs of the community currently. It is anticipated that concerns heard during engagement, like service later in the evening, more weekend service, additional trips etc. that cannot be accommodated within available resources, could be addressed in the future when additional provincial funding is available.
What does the route look like?
The route has been developed to serve different community needs at an introductory level. The route operates between hitac̓u, Ucluelet, Tofino, and passes through the areas of Parks Canada and Ty-Histanis and Esowista.
When Does the Service Run?
On weekdays, service starts at 6:30 am, with the last trip ending close to 7 pm. Seven round trips will run between Ucluelet and Tofino, with two of these trips starting and ending in hitac̓u.
On weekends, service starts at 7 am with the last trip ending close to 7 pm. Four round trips will run between Ucluelet and Tofino, with two of these trips starting and ending in hitac̓u .
Where can I catch the bus?
The full list of bus stops is provided HERE. Only Timing Point stops are identified in the schedule, but there are more bus stops along the route as shown in the full list. Timing Points are stops where the bus will try to leave at its scheduled time to ensure the rest of the schedule stays on track.
Some bus stops are the same whether you are heading toward Tofino or Ucluelet and are bolded in the list. Otherwise, the bus stop locations depend on whether you are heading in the direction of Tofino or Ucluelet.
How much does it cost to use the service?
West Coast Transit is a cashless system. Trips can be paid for via the Token Transit App.
The District of Tofino and the District of Ucluelet will now be selling books of tickets for the West Coast Transit service. Books of 10 regular tickets ($50) and books of 10 seniors tickets ($20) can be purchased at the District of Tofino office from 9-12 and 1-4 Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays. They can also be purchased at the Community Centre in Ucluelet from 9-5 Monday to Friday and 9-4 Saturday and Sunday. You can also still purchase tickets at the Ucluelet Co-op. West Coast Transit tickets will no longer be sold at the Co-op grocery store in Tofino.
Introducing Senior Fares!
If you are a senior (65+), a single ride fare through Token Transit is $2 and a book of senior tickets is $20.
Passes to use the system can also be purchased at the Co-op Food Stores in Tofino and Ucluelet. Cash will not be accepted as a form of payment.
Ticket Type | Fares |
---|---|
Single Ride Pass (only digital) | $5.50 |
Day Pass (only digital) | $10.00 |
10 Pass booklet (only paper*) | $50.00 |
Monthly Pass** (only digital) | $100.00 |
Children (Under 12) | Ride for free |
Students (12 and above) | Free with Student ID card |
*10 Pass booklet also available at the Co-op Food Stores in Tofino and Ucluelet
**Organizations can purchase monthly passes via Token Transit and distribute to their members to use for accessing the transit system. Inquire with westcoasttransit@acrd.bc.ca for more details.
To find out more about the Token Transit App, visit https://tokentransit.com/
How can I find out more information about the service?
Please refer to the Rider's Guide for more information about West Coast Transit. Paper copies of the Rider’s Guide can be picked up at the following locations:
- Ucluelet Co-op Food Store – 1580 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet
- Tofino Co-op Food Store – 140 First Street, Tofino
- Pacific Rim Visitor Centre – 2791 Pacific Rim Highway
- Tofino Visitor Centre – 1426 Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino
- Ucluelet Community Centre – 500 Materson Drive, Ucluelet
- Cixʷatin Centre – 700 Wya Road, hitac̓u
- Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Main Administration Office – 1119 Pacific Rim Highway
How can I provide feedback about the service?
Please provide feedback on the new service and schedules so that we can further refine the service and inform any future improvements. We understand that this is an introductory level of service and it is likely that there are gaps in service hours, trip times etc. that can be addressed in the future when provincial funding comes available, so please let us know how to improve by contacting westcoasttransit@acrd.bc.ca
Contact Us
Service-related Enquiries
For service related enquiries, from Monday to Sunday between 6 am and 7 pm, please call 778-421-8617.
General Enquiries
For general comments or enquiries, please contact:
Eddie Kunderman, Operations Manager, ACRD
250-720-2700 (between 8:30 am - 4:30 pm)
ekunderman@acrd.bc.ca