Kelowna will see expanded handyDART service hours that will benefit seniors and persons with disabilities, thanks to a funding lift by the province and the City of Kelowna.

The Government of Canada remains committed to making significant investments in infrastructure that will improve our public transit systems, strengthen Canadian communities, and help grow the economy.

Seniors and persons with mobility issues in Merritt will benefit by a new HandyDART service in the community, thanks to funding set aside by the Province and the City of Merritt.

Chilliwack will see expanded handyDART service hours that will benefit seniors and persons with disabilities, thanks to funding earmarked by the province and the City of Chilliwack.

Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink, issued the following statement regarding recent meetings with the federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities:

Government is taking action to ensure that everyone who holds a BC Bus Pass will continue to have access to public transit systems across the province now that TransLink is closing its fare gates.

To create equity in the system the Province is investing $170 million over the next three years to ensure about 100,000 people on disability assistance in B.C. will receive a rate increase of up to $77 a month as of Sept. 1, 2016.