The addition of 1,700 service hours will increase bus frequency on certain routes and provide a new Comox to Courtenay connector route, the Comox Valley Regional District announced Monday.“Our transit ridership increased 17 per cent in 2010/11 and is on track for a further 10-per-cent increase in 2011/12,” CVRD board chair Edwin Grieve said. “We developed these improvements based on feedback from the public and also to meet the goals, objectives, and targets of the Comox Valley Sustainability and Regional Growth strategies.”Starting March 12 the following service improvements will take effect:• New downtown Courtenay-to-Comox express connector, on a one-year trial basis. A downtown-to-downtown trip will take 15 minutes instead of a half-hour.• No. 3X Comox Express — five trips weekdays from Comox, four on Saturdays;• No. 4X Comox Express — seven trips weekdays from Courtenay, four on Saturdays;• Route No. 10 Royston-Buckley Bay/No. 2 Cumberland — increased frequency on the combined routing from Courtenay to Royston then on to Cumberland via Royston Road will increase service from once to five times per day during the week, four times per day on Saturday and once on Sundays. • Route 12 North Valley Connector — an additional round trip on weekdays will be included, leaving Courtenay at 5:37 p.m. connecting to the Campbell River transit system.“I’m glad that people in the Comox Valley had direct input into shaping the transit system around their own community,” MLA Don McRae said. “Public consultation is the best way to deliver a vital service, and I’d like to thank all the transit users who provided feedback because it makes using the bus faster and more convenient for everyone.”Funding for the local transit system is cost shared between the CVRD and BC Transit. “In partnership with the Comox Valley Regional District we are pleased to provide this expanded and improved service,” said Manuel Achadinha, president and CEO of BC Transit. “BC Transit is committed to connecting people and communities through sustainable transit solutions.” For more information, including the revised transit schedule, check www.bctransit.com.