Local Saturday bus service in the runup to Christmas begins on Nov. 13 and is potentially a precursor to regular Saturday service in Merritt.

According to Jen Oswald, manager of the Nicola Valley Transportation Society, the Saturday buses will follow the same schedule as buses on weekdays.

Pickups will start on Saturday, Nov. 13, and continue for the next six weekends until Dec. 18, the last Saturday before Christmas.

Oswald says B.C. Transit will provide the extra funding for the Saturday buses.

The Nicola Valley Transportation Society has provided Saturday service during the holiday season in years past. Both the society and the City of Merritt have also pushed B.C. Transit to provide regular Saturday service during the rest of the year.

Saturday buses were among the concerns City of Merritt local politicians brought to the provincial Ministry of Transportation at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention earlier this year.

Oswald says B.C. Transit has listened to local concerns and are trying to bring regular Saturday bus service here.

“We’re hoping it’ll come in January.

“They’re working on it. They keep promising me that,” says Oswald with a laugh.

As part of its Christmas duties, the Nicola Valley Transportation Society will also provide free rides through town on its Christmas Lights Tour on Dec. 9 and 10, as well as possible additional dates.

Tickets for the tour are available from the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce office in exchange for a donation at the food bank.