Faster, More Reliable Service

Together with a transit priority signal at Marine Drive and Taylor Way, bus-only lanes in West and North Vancouver allow buses to bypass traffic queues for the Lions Gate Bridge, providing faster and more reliable service for customers.

Signal changes at Marine Drive and Taylor Way

• a new transit priority signal has been added to help get eastbound buses across Taylor Way ahead of other traffic
• when the white vertical bar illuminates, only transit buses go through the intersection
• other signals will then continue as normal
• remember, do not block the intersection!

Left turn changes on Marine Drive at Garden and McGuire Avenues

• left turns will no longer be permitted at these intersections
• this will reduce collisions, increase safety and help remove traffic and buses from local, residential roads

24/7

• transit priority, traffic signals and left turn changes are in place all the time with no exceptions

Transit buses only

• only transit buses can use the bus lanes at this time

No vehicle lanes lost

• there is still the same number of lanes for other traffic

Cyclists share the bus lanes (North Vancouver)

• in North Vancouver, cyclists can ride carefully side-by-side with buses in the bus lane 
• in West Vancouver, the designated bike route is the Spirit Trail south of Park Royal

You can still access businesses and residences

• bus lanes do not impact access to the many businesses along Marine Drive
• vehicles can enter the bus lane to make a right turn

There are three key transit priority changes on Marine Drive:

• a new eastbound bus lane from Pound Road to Taylor Way (West Vancouver)
• a new transit priority signal at Taylor that allows buses to get across the intersection ahead of other traffic
• a new westbound bus lane from just west of Tatlow Avenue to the Lions Gate Bridge (North Vancouver)

These changes mean buses will connect faster and more directly to the Lions Gate Bridge, and will reduce travel time and improve schedule reliability for transit customers. The changes will also take buses and traffic off residential streets.

Here are the route and stop changes to watch out for.

Route Changes

• Staring June, buses will no longer use 15th Street in North Vancouver during the morning rush period. All North Shore buses will stay on Marine Drive and use the new bus lane all day, every day.
• In early June, bus routes 246 and 247 began turning from Marine Drive onto Capilano Road when travelling northbound.

Stop Changes

The following stops are new or reopening:

• Stop 61510 (new, northbound Capilano Road at Curling Road) and Stop 59990 (new, northbound Capilano Road at Fullerton Ave) is now open
• Stop 61563 (new, westbound on Marine Drive at Capilano Road) opens June 20, 2011 
• Stops 54471, 54607 and 61566 (existing at the north end of Lions Gate Bridge) will reopen soon

The following stops have permanently closed or moved:

• Morning peak westbound stops on 15th Avenue - 54431 (at Pemberton Avenue), 54432 (Philip Avenue) and 54433 (Tatlow Avenue) - move to Marine Drive as of June 20.
• Stop 54434 (southbound on McGuire Avenue at Marine Drive) is now closed.
• Stops 54478 (northbound Garden and Marine Drive) and 54479 (northbound Garden and Hope) are now closed. Please use the new stop 61510 or 59990 on Capilano Road.

Cycling has also been considered in the Marine Drive transit priority project.

North Vancouver

• curb lanes are now wider than normal (at 4.3 metres) so that cyclists can share the lane in careful, side-by-side operation with buses (in new bus lanes) and other traffic (other parts of Marine Drive)
• with buses and traffic no longer using 15th Street, this is an alternative route for cyclists

West Vancouver

• connections via the Spirit Trail to Lions Gate Bridge and North Vancouver
• other cycling improvements are also being made as part of the Capilano Bridge replacement project, expected to be complete this summer

Traffic waiting to get on the Lions Gate Bridge causes severe congestion, delays buses, and affects our communities. Building bus lanes is a cost-effective way to improve transit service and help move people quickly and efficiently over the bridge.

Marine Drive bus lanes are in the curb lanes. No driving lanes were lost. Park Royal Shopping Centre provided additional property to support the bus lane in West Vancouver.

While the number of driving lanes does not change, drivers need to be aware of traffic pattern changes.

• Left turn restrictions: Vehicles traveling in either direction on Marine Drive can no longer make a left turn on to Garden Avenue or McGuire Avenue in North Vancouver. This will reduce collisions, increase safety and help get traffic and buses off local, residential roads.

• New signal operation at Marine Drive and Taylor Way: Drivers heading eastbound to the Lions Gate Bridge or North Vancouver need to be aware of this new traffic signal operation. When the white vertical bar illuminates, only transit buses go through the intersection. Other signals will then continue as normal. Remember not to block the intersection!

Please obey new traffic signals or fines could result.

Marine Drive transit priority maintains all safe crossings for pedestrians. Signalized intersections remain in place to ensure everyone's safety. In addition to existing sidewalks, a new sidewalk has been installed on the south side of Marine Drive between Capilano Road and the Lions Gate Bridge.