Winter service changes mean more connections to Evergreen Line, TransLink CEO says

​TransLink's winter service changes that come into effect Dec. 19 will create new bus routes in the Tri-Cities region to connect with the recently opened Evergreen Line, the transit authority's CEO said Wednesday.

Translink CEO Kevin Desmond said the Evergreen Extension will modify 22 bus routes in the region that includes Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

"It's one of the largest service changes in Translink's history and it's all about getting better options here for the Tri-Cities," said Desmond, speaking Wednesday at the bus exchange at Coqutilam Central Station.

"Using the advantage of having the SkyTrain we can move bus routes around and have better connections to the SkyTrain going forward."

97 B-Line, TrainBus discontinued

A number of community shuttle buses are being renamed and their routes will now connect with Coquitlam Central Station, and there will also be a new bus service to the Dominion Triangle region in Port Coquitlam.

There will also be the creation of a new service — the 191 Coquitlam Central Station/Princeton —  which will provide service to the Burke Mountain neighbourhood and connect with the Evergreen Extension and West Coast Express.

The 97 B-Line and 190 Vancouver/Coquitlam Station route will be discontinued.

Desmond said the changes may mean people who previously would have only taken one bus to their destination may now have to bus and then transfer to the SkyTrain.

"We believe if they have to transfer to the rail, they're still going to get to their destination faster and reliably, potentially by quite a bit," he said.

"Some of the improvements should save people 15 minutes, if they're going to downtown Vancouver for example."

The West Coast Express TrainBus will be discontinued after Dec. 30, but starting Dec. 19 select trips on the 701 will extend to Mission City Station on the West Coast Express line.

The 701 route, which connects with the Coquitlam Central Station on the Evergreen Extension, has similar arrivals and departures from Mission as the TrainBus, according to TransLink.

Additional changes coming downtown

TransLink is also making some changes to bus routes in the downtown Vancouver area — emerging from recommendations from a 2015 consultation.

For example, the 6 Davie/Downtown line will extend along Davie Street to provide better connections to Yaletown, Canada Line and Cambie Street.

The C21 and C23 buses in the West End will discontinue and merge into the new 23 Main Street Station/Yaletown/Beach Avenue route.

In addition, there will be reduced service for the holiday season.

Routes serving schools and post-secondary institutions will be running on a lighter schedule during the school holidays.

Christmas and Boxing Day will run on a Sunday/holiday service schedule.

A full, detailed list of service changes is on TransLink's website, and users are encouraged to use Trip Planner to plan their route.