Bus loop changes are being examined at Country Club Centre, and city officials are eliciting information from transit users and other community members.
The City of Nanaimo is gathering information for its Country Club urban centre mobility upgrades project, which is examining whether to keep the transit exchange at its current location on Norwell Drive or relocate it. The project is considering related amenities and ways to improve accessibility in the area.
Rob Shearer, city engineering projects technologist and project manager coordinator, was among staff members at an informational booth accepting input and answering questions Saturday, July 27. He said the city has not decided anything yet, but is hearing "loud and clear" that people want a transit system that better aligns with other mobility options.
"They want to see tighter schedules, quicker exchange, better shelters on Norwell Drive, they want to be better protected from the elements, the sun, the rain, and streetscape improvements of Norwell," Shearer told the News Bulletin. "We've got a little bit of feedback on that and I've talked to a few cyclists in the area who want to see a better accessway from the [E&N Trail] up to Norwell."
In terms of potentially expanding the current exchange, he said there are a few considerations. The Norwell Drive corridor is wide with a lot of space on either side of the road, he said, with multiple lanes and right-of-ways on either side.
"We're looking at how do we turn buses around faster up there? Is there a potential for routing people around a roundabout up there, because that's something people are interested in?" asked Shearer. "We just put in the one at Mary Ellen Drive in the north side of town and we've gotten fantastic feedback for that facility, which has helped guide transit in a similar way, as well as everyday vehicle users."
In terms of relocating, a sloped area near the Triple O's restaurant is a potential site for a new transit exchange.
"It's relatively unused over there," said Shearer. "Is there a potential to have buses, at least northbound coming up into there, and then have that as a drop-off location? We've heard mixed feedback on whether people want to march up to Norwell. At least, I think they want that visual guide. Where they're dropped off, they want to see where the transit hub is."
As for relocating to an old gas station site at the corner of Norwell Drive and old Island Highway, environmental protocols would have to be followed. While it's not out of the realm of possibility, Shearer said the appetite for that spot is currently low.
City officials are expecting to talk to the mall owners in August. Another round of consultation is coming in the fall and construction is anticipated to begin 2026-27, the city previously stated in a press release.
For more information, visit www.getinvolvednanaimo.ca.
