TransLink seeks public input on 85 proposed bus route changes

Translink wants commuters to comment on more than 85 proposed changes to bus routes across Metro Vancouver.

More than half of the changes are linked to the new Evergreen extension, which is due to come on line by the fall of 2016 and will have six new stations in the Tri-Cities area.

"As we plan for the future, we need to hear from the people who use our transit services," said Colleen Brennan a TransLink vice-president in a release.

"No  final decisions have been made and we're listening to our customers so we can take their concerns and feedback into account."

While the Evergreen Line and new routes to a mall under construction in Tsawwassen are behind many of the changes, TransLink is also looking to decrease travel time on busy routes, extend services in high-demand areas and make the whole system more efficient.

New Hastings B-Line

One big change is a new line, called the Hastings B-Line 135, which will run from SFU to downtown Vancouver.

"And that will increase reliability for bus service and make the trip a little bit faster for people as well," said Jennifer Morland, a TransLink spokeswoman.

Translink plans to eventually phase out the Central Tri-Cities 97 B-Line, as rail travel from the Evergreen Line will make it redundant.

In its release, the authority says, "With no new funding, this is one way that we are able to  respond to growing and shifting customer needs across the transit network," an apparent reference to the failed transit referendum on a $7.5 billion regional transportation plan.

The Transit Network Consultation online survey is available from October 13 until November 6. 

Final changes will be rolled out sometime over 2016 and 2017 in waves.

Specific proposed route changes include:

Burnaby and New Westminster 

• 49th Ave–Champlain Heights (26/49)
• Metrotown–Edmonds–New Westminster (106) 
• Metrotown Station (49/116/129/130/144/430)
• Simon Fraser University–Burnaby Mountain (135/143/144/145/N35) 
• Hastings B-Line (135) 
• New Westminster Community Shuttles (C3/C4/C8/C9)
• Walnut Grove–Lougheed (501/509/555) 

North Shore

• British Properties–Chartwell (254 / 256)
• Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal Express (257)
• Upper Lonsdale–Lynn Valley (242 / N24)
• West Vancouver–Downtown–UBC (44 / 250/ 258)

Northeast Sector, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

• Central Tri-Cities (97 B-Line / 160 / 190 / C24)
• Northeast Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam (C37 / C38 / C40)
• Port Coquitlam–South Coquitlam (159 / 169 / C40)
• Port Moody–North Coquitlam (178 / C26 / C27 / C28 / C29 / C30)
• Southwest Coquitlam (143 / 151 / 153 / 157)
• West Coast Express (TrainBus / 701)

South of Fraser

• 208th St–Willoughby (501 / 595)
• Brookswood–Langley Centre (502 / 531 / 590 / C63)
• Cloverdale–Panorama Village (320 / 341)
• King George Boulevard (394)
• Walnut Grove–Lougheed (501 / 509)
• White Rock–South Surrey (351 / 352 / 354 / C50 / C51 / C52 / C53)

Richmond and Delta

• 41st Ave–UBC (41 / 43 / 480)
• Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Express (620)
• Tsawwassen Malls (601 / 609)

Vancouver and UBC

• 41st Ave–UBC (41 / 43 / 480)
• 49th Ave–Champlain Heights (26 / 49)
• Hastings B-Line (135)
• Marine Drive NightBus (N8 / N20)
• NightBus (N6 / N16 / N22)
• Northeast Vancouver trolleys (4 / 7 / 16)
• UBC–Spanish Banks (C18 / C19 / C20)
• West End–Downtown (5 / 6 / C21 / C23)
• West Vancouver–Downtown–UBC (44 / 250 / 25)