Half-dozen bus routes return to service amid Greater Victoria deep freeze

A #72 transit bus headed for the Swartz Bay ferry terminal stops to pick up passengers on a snowy Douglas Street at Fort Street. BC Transit buses are back on the Victoria streets Wednesday (Dec. 21) after the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)A #72 transit bus headed for the Swartz Bay ferry terminal stops to pick up passengers on a snowy Douglas Street at Fort Street. BC Transit buses are back on the Victoria streets Wednesday (Dec. 21) after the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
A dip in temperatures means a frozen fountain outside the legislative buildings in B.C.’s capital. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)A dip in temperatures means a frozen fountain outside the legislative buildings in B.C.’s capital. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
Icy seaside snow blows near Lochside Drive in Sidney as an arctic outflow envelops the south Island Dec. 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)Icy seaside snow blows near Lochside Drive in Sidney as an arctic outflow envelops the south Island Dec. 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The signal says walk, but piles of icy snow say otherwise at the corner of Blanshard and Broughton in Victoria. Walking may be the only option for many residents as transit halted for a second consecutive day Dec. 21. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)The signal says walk, but piles of icy snow say otherwise at the corner of Blanshard and Broughton in Victoria. Walking may be the only option for many residents as transit halted for a second consecutive day Dec. 21. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Icy seaside snow blows near Lochside Drive in Sidney as an arctic outflow envelops the south Island on Dec. 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)Icy seaside snow blows near Lochside Drive in Sidney as an arctic outflow envelops the south Island on Dec. 21. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
BC Transit buses are back on the Victoria streets Wednesday (Dec. 21) after the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)BC Transit buses are back on the Victoria streets Wednesday (Dec. 21) after the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)
A transit bus showing a Not In Service sign is driven along a snowy Douglas Street. Transit buses are back on the street Wednesday (Dec. 21) the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)A transit bus showing a Not In Service sign is driven along a snowy Douglas Street. Transit buses are back on the street Wednesday (Dec. 21) the previous day’s snowstorm that halted all transit service. (Don Denton/Black Press Media)

A handful of bus routes are running in Greater Victoria as a deep cold continues.

Buses were cancelled Tuesday and early Wednesday with a few routes returning to service as of 9 a.m. Wednesday (Dec. 21).

BC Transit sent out a handful of buses to assess road conditions and during its 9 a.m. update noted a handful of routes are running: the 2 South Oak Bay/James Bay (not servicing Central and St. Patrick, routing via Oak Bay Marina); 4 Downtown/UVic (will finish/leave from Government and Superior streets); 15 Esquimalt/UVic; 50 Downtown/Langford; 61 Downtown/Sooke; and the 70 Downtown/Swartz Bay.

Visit bctransit.com for the ever-evolving schedule.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority urged residents to refrain from walking the breakwater and Inner Harbour lower causeway until the snow is cleared.

Citing road conditions BC Ferries cancelled morning sailings (to the 10:25 a.m.) between Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay. The corporation later clarified on social media that the Brentwood terminal required plowing, and promised updates.

The Capital Regional District’s curbside recycling collection is also cancelled for a second day on all routes for Dec. 21. Residents are asked to hold their recycling until the next collection date.

Weather also takes the blame for a second day of post-secondary closures in the Capital Region with Camosun College closed for the day and the University of Victoria closed for the morning. UVic cancelled morning in-person exams with online proceeding as scheduled. Another update will happen at 10 a.m. about exams scheduled for later.

READ ALSO: Victoria off-roaders step up to get hospital staff to work in snowstorm

The expected Arctic front brought a cold air mass to the south coast with temperatures dipping 10 C below the seasonal norm with wind chill values approaching -20 C over the Greater Victoria and the southern Gulf Islands regions, according to Environment Canada.

The deep cold is expected to continue into Thursday with snow and rain returning Friday.

Environment Canada reminds residents to dress warmly in layers and stay dry while covering as much exposed skin as possible to avoid frostbite.

READ MORE: Storm coverage

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

 

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroom@oakbaynews.com.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

BC StormBreaking NewsWeather

Previous story
PODCAST: Canucks at a crossroads, plus memories of old-time road hockey
Next story
Canada’s population growing faster than it has in decades: StatCan

Just Posted

Spouses of CFB Esquimalt are calling out a new pay structure that takes away monthly help for any expense other than housing and targets to mainly benefit the lower ranks. Pictured is Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove presiding over the changing of command from Commodore Bob Auchterlonie to Captain (Navy) Jeffery Zwick CFB Esquimalt on board the HMCS Calgary, in Esquimalt B.C., on June 24, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
CFB Esquimalt spouses decry families effectively seeing pay cuts with new structure

One man won the battle, but a Victoria moving company won the war in a dispute over a damaged refrigerator that ended up in court. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)
Man sues after Victoria movers drop refrigerator, but fine print slashes damages

Operation Trackshoes, a sports weekend for people with developmental disabilities, celebrates 50 years this June. The board announced this month it will be the last. (Photo by Alan Thurston)
After 50 years of changing lives, Operation Trackshoes embarks on last lap at UVic

Reconstruction of a staircase is among the improvements coming to the lower Sooke Potholes area. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Sooke Potholes set to get more parking spots, better toilets