TransLink Media Releases

SkyTrain Single Track Night Time Service Resumes

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:10:00 -0700

TransLink continues its commitment to maintaining a state of good repair

(VANCOUVER) - Starting Sunday, May 12, passengers traveling on the Expo Line, between Waterfront and King George stations after 8 p.m., most Sundays to Thursdays, are encouraged to plan for an extra 10-15 minutes travel time.

Power rail replacement work will take place starting at 8 p.m. and finishing before service starts the next morning. During power rail replacement work:

SkyTrain will be single tracking (when trains travel on the same track in alternating directions) between stations where upgrades are taking place
Trains may be held for up to five minutes at a station either before or after the work area
Additional trains will operate between Waterfront and Metrotown stations
Millennium Line passengers will need to switch trains at Columbia or Commercial-Broadway stations

Please watch for signs, listen to announcements, and follow the directions of SkyTrain staff.

This work began in November 2012 and is expected to continue into mid-2014. The work involves replacing 34 kilometers of original power rail on the Expo Line, between Nanaimo and Scott Road stations. Power rail supplies SkyTrain vehicles with power, approximately 650 volts DC.

Power rail replacement work/single tracking will be cancelled on Sunday, May 19, 2013 (in lieu of Victoria Day) and will resume on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 8 p.m. Other special circumstances (i.e. major events in downtown Vancouver or holidays) may result in the delay or cancellation of work on some nights.

For transit service information including SkyTrain service changes due to power rail replacement work:

Visit translink.ca/ontrack
Sign up for Transit Alerts
Visit m.translink.ca
Follow TransLink on Twitter
Or call Customer Service at 604.953.3333

TransLink brings forward Goods Movement Strategy

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:26:00 -0700

TransLink includes goods movement as part of its regional transportation strategy

(VANCOUVER) - TransLink will develop a Goods Movement Strategy as part of its regional transportation strategy. Building on the collaborative work of several transportation and trade partners including Metro Vancouver, Port Metro Vancouver, the Gateway Council, Transport Canada and others, the strategy will incorporate goods movement into the overall transportation plan for the region.

“Goods movement is strongly linked to the region’s goals for the health of the economy, the environment, and the region’s communities,” notes Sany Zein, Director, Roads for TransLink. “These goals mirror TransLink’s overall vision to create a better place to live built on transportation excellence.”

As Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority, TransLink is responsible for an efficient and sustainable transportation network. This includes an integrated system of roads, regional transit and a network of bike and pedestrian pathways. TransLink recognizes the region plays a significant role in global goods movement as Metro Vancouver is the Asia-Pacific Gateway for domestic and international trade and tourism. With both Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) tied to the transcontinental railway and highway system and the regional road and transit networks, it is important for TransLink to identify the sector’s needs and its role in best supporting goods movement in the region.

“As we develop the regional transportation strategy, it is important that we better understand the role of Metro Vancouver’s goods movement sector in our local economy,” adds Zein. “From this, we can better define TransLink’s role in supporting goods movement in the region.”

In 2012, TransLink commissioned a review of goods movement in Metro Vancouver and looked at best practices from around the world. These papers describe the role of goods movement in the region and the importance to long-term transportation plans. Initial stakeholder consultation also indicates that the goods movement industry benefits from transportation strategies that manage congestion and improve reliability, including investments in transit infrastructure and services.

Other findings of the studies include:
• Goods movement is important to the local economy. Statistics Canada reports that trade, transportation and warehousing accounts for 21 per cent of the region’s jobs.
• Port Metro Vancouver ranks first in North America in foreign export shipments and second on the west coast of the Americas in total cargo volume. Vancouver’s port activity and volume is increasing, creating a greater demand for the local transportation network.
• On average, close to 10 per cent of all weekday traffic on TransLink’s bridges is truck traffic.
• Stakeholders representing numerous public and private agencies involved in goods movement have informed TransLink that it has a pivotal role in integrating national and provincial goods movement initiatives with regional industrial land use plans and municipal road networks.
“There are tremendous opportunities to help provide consistency for provincial, regional and municipal collaboration,” notes Zein. “As the region’s transportation authority, we are making it a priority and facilitating the conversation with stakeholders.”

The strategy further aims to develop policy recommendations to guide future decision-making on goods movement issues and present considerations and strategies for TransLink and other agencies to support the sector.

The Moving Goods Backgrounder summarizing the research is available on TransLink’s website in the Regional Transportation Strategy section. Work is currently underway to update the regional transportation strategy, which will identify options for meeting future transportation needs in the region. Consultation on this will begin later in 2013.

Expansion joint failure cause of SkyTrain service disruption

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:22:00 -0700

(VANCOUVER) The preliminary cause of Thursday’s SkyTrain service disruption in New Westminster was a power rail expansion joint that failed between 22nd Street and New Westminster stations.

During normal rail operations, power rail expansion joints absorb heat-related expansion and contraction on the power rail. When they fail, the power rail and its support posts can be damaged.

BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC), the operators of SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium lines, apologize to passengers for the service disruption and thank them for their patience.

“There is never a good time for an unplanned service disruption,” said Fred Cummings, President and General Manager, BCRTC. “Having a service disruption during rush hour and while fans are trying to get to the last Canucks home game of the regular season is particularly difficult on our passengers.”

The power rail expansion joint that failed is original to SkyTrain’s Expo Line which officially opened in January 1986. It and others like it are scheduled to be replaced during the ongoing upgrade of the power rail system between Nanaimo and Scott Road stations (34 kilometres) over the next two years. This work began in November 2012. The cost of the power rail replacement project is about $33 million.

This Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, power rail replacement work will take place between Edmonds and 22nd Street stations from start of service until 2 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. The replacement work will have no major service impact, although eastbound trips may be increased by approximately 30 seconds as SkyTrains slow down through the work area.

Sunday to Thursday evening power rail replacement work is expected to resume in mid-May 2013. The work will take place overnight, starting at approximately 8 p.m. and finishing before start of service the next morning. Special circumstances (i.e. major events in downtown Vancouver) may result in the delay of the start time or the rescheduling of work on some nights.

For SkyTrain service information including service changes during power rail replacement work, sign up for Transit Alerts at translink.ca/alerts, visit m.translink.ca, follow TransLink on Twitter @TransLink or call Customer Service at 604.953.3333.

Extra transit service before & after the race

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:57:00 -0700

TransLink services for the 2013 Vancouver Sun Run

(VANCOUVER) More than 48,000 people are expected to participate in the Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, April 21, 2013 and TransLink will extend transit services to accommodate the increase in ridership before and after the race.

How to get there:

Seabus will start operations one hour earlier than normal, with the first sailing leaving Lonsdale Quay at 7 a.m. and sailings every 15-minutes until 3 p.m.

SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines will start service half an hour earlier. The first train will leave King George Station at 6:38 a.m. and Lougheed Station at 6:45 a.m. SkyTrain will also operate “rush hour” level service prior to the start of the race and also in the afternoon until the crowds clear. It will then resume its regular Sunday service.

Canada Line will begin at the regular time of 5:05 a.m. and will provide additional service for crowds headed downtown prior to the start of the race. It will then resume its regular Sunday service.

West Coast Express will operate a special Sun Run Train. It will depart Mission City Station at 7 a.m. for the trip into downtown Vancouver and will leave Waterfront Station at 1 p.m. for the return trip. Information on fares for West Coast Express can be found at translink.ca under “Fares and Passes.”

Coast Mountain Bus will provide its regular Sunday service, but with a number of detours in effect, diverting away from the Sun Run race route in the West End, Burrard Bridge and 2nd Avenue in Kitsilano. Buses that normally use Georgia will travel along Pender Street between Cardero and Richards streets.

West Vancouver Blue Bus will also provide its regular Sunday service, with additional service in the morning from 25th and Marine and have extra buses available after the run.

For cyclists, TravelSmart is again sponsoring BEST’s Bicycle Valet which offers secure temporary bike storage for up to 150 bikes, free of charge, at Gate F, on the second level of BC Place, near the Sun Run finish line. Cyclists are reminded that due to crowding and safety concerns, they may not be able to take their bikes on SkyTrain until the crowds have cleared.

Sunday fares (adult price $2.75 and concession $1.75 for all zones) will be in effect on race day.

Passengers who don’t already have a monthly pass or faresaver tickets and who would like to avoid long lines at SkyTrain ticket vending machines after the Sun Run, can pre-purchase return tickets prior to the race. Portable fareboxes will be set up at King George, Burrard, Granville, Bridgeport and Vancouver City Centre stations. Portable fareboxes also will be set up at Stadium-Chinatown Station for up to one hour after the race. Exact cash fare is required at the portable fareboxes.

For transit service information including bus re-routes during the Vancouver Sun Run, sign up for Transit Alerts at translink.ca/alerts, visit m.translink.ca, follow TransLink on Twitter @TransLink or call Customer Service at 604.953.3333.

Seasonal Service Change Begins

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:32:00 -0700

VANCOUVER – April marks the beginning of spring service adjustments in Metro Vancouver. Changes to transit services are made four times a year and ensure that services are as effective and efficient as possible.

To accommodate a seasonal increase in demand a number of areas will see increased service:

620 Tsawwassen Ferry/Bridgeport Station: From April 15 until September 2 (Labour Day), between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., two #620 buses will leave the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and Bridgeport Station every hour (up from one per hour). All #620 buses will be articulated.
SeaBus service: Starting May 19, until September 2, 2013, the SeaBus will operate every 15 minutes (up from every 30 minutes) between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
150 White Pine Beach/Coquitlam Station: Beginning May 4, service to White Pine Beach resumes Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until Labour Day. Weekday (Monday to Friday) service will operate between June 10 and August 30.
C26 Buntzen Lake Special/Coquitlam Station Special: Beginning June 15, service will resume to Buntzen Lake with trips operating on weekends and holidays until Labour Day.

While service will temporarily increase on seasonal high demand routes, others will temporary decrease as demand declines including:

9 Alma/Granville/Commercial-Broadway Station/Boundary: Beginning April 15 until September, peak period trips between Alma and UBC will be temporarily discontinued. As an alternative, customers can use the #99 B-Line service.
143 /Coquitlam Station/SFU: Beginning April 15 until September, trips will operate every 12 minutes, with the last trip leaving SFU at 7:37p.m.
130 Metrotown Station/Hastings/Phibbs Exchange: From April 15 until September, Capilano University trips will be discontinued. Customers travelling between Phibbs Exchange and Capilano University can use the #239 Capilano University/Park Royal.
4 Powell/Downtown: From April 15 until further notice, a shuttle service will operate between Waterfront Station and the Eton/ Renfrew Street terminus. Customers traveling east will transfer from #4 Downtown at Cordova and Seymour to the #4 Powell. Customers from the east (Powell) travelling west will transfer from the #4 Downtown to the #4 UBC at Cordova and Seymour. This shuttle service will operate every 15 minutes and less frequent in the evening.
4 UBC/Downtown: From April 15 until further notice, a shuttle service will operate between Waterfront Station and UBC. Customers travelling west will transfer from #4 Downtown at Cordova and Seymour to the #4 UBC. Customers from the east (Powell) traveling west will transfer from the #4 Powell to the #4 UBC at Cordova and Seymour. Shuttle service will operate every 15 minutes and less frequent in the evening.

To learn more about the April service changes:

Visit translink.ca/servicechanges
Subscribe to receive Transit Alerts by email or text message at translink.ca
Check for Alerts on your smartphone at m.translink.ca
Follow TransLink on Twitter, @translink
Or call Customer Information at 604.953.3333

Delivering more and better service - more efficiently

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:58:00 -0700

TransLink’s 2012 Year-end Financial and Performance Report

VANCOUVER – Record-level customer satisfaction, decreased costs per passenger kilometre, effective service delivery and reduced crime on the transit system are among the highlights in TransLink's 2012 Year-end Financial and Performance Report released today.

“In 2012, TransLink streamlined operations, improved efficiency, and delivered services to 239 million people while lifting customer satisfaction to its highest level ever,” says TransLink’s Chief Financial Officer Cathy McLay. “This is made possible because we managed our fiscal demands with a focus on what matters most to our system: our customers.”

In 2012, TransLink’s focus on delivering outstanding service to customers resulted in a record overall customer service rating of 7.7 out of 10. The number of complaints per one million passengers decreased to its lowest level of the last five years.

Ridership continued to climb in 2012, as more people turn to transit to travel around Metro Vancouver. TransLink provided 363 million rides in 2012, an almost two per cent increase over 2011. Not only did demand grow, but TransLink also changed bus services to better match travel demand and make the transit system more efficient. As a result, TransLink delivered more rides with the same amount of service – the number of people getting on board transit per service hour reached the highest level of the last five years.

TransLink and its subsidiaries met the challenge to become more efficient and beat the budget by $45 million. It did so primarily through improving bus operations, scheduling and recovery time, as well as not putting in place the full service expansion originally planned for the year. Cost per passenger and cost per passenger kilometre travelled have both declined since 2009.

TransLink also continued to make its fleet more reliable for customers – bus and rail vehicles can now travel much farther before requiring major repairs than was possible five years ago. TransLink achieved this through better maintenance practices and ongoing fleet replacement. This reduced overall costs by enabling TransLink to reduce the number of spare vehicles.

Other initiatives and highlights of the year include:
• Reduced crime against people on the transit system by 8.75 per cent in 2012 compared with the previous five-year average
• Improved customer-facing applications, including offering customers real-time bus information through a mobile site – addressing 60,000 requests per day through the next bus real-time service
• Implemented new fare enforcement legislation, which gives TransLink new powers to ensure people are paying their fair share on the transit system
• Put into service 69,000 new service hours, including introducing the first bus service over the Port Mann Bridge in 25 years
• Took advantage of historic low long-term interest rates and retiring existing debt
• Achieved a 10 per cent increase in Golden Ears Bridge crossings, which increased toll revenue by 15 per cent

These successes took place despite TransLink’s funding challenges, putting on hold full expansion plans, as outlined in the 2012 Moving Forward Supplemental Plan, and deferring or cancelling a number of capital projects.

The full 2012 Year-End Financial and Performance Report is available at TransLink’s website. TransLink’s 2012 Statutory Annual Report is also available online. Both reports are available in TransLink’s Corporate Reports.

Economic Action Plan 2013

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:44:00 -0700

Federal funds enable critical transportation infrastructure for Metro Vancouver

VANCOUVER – TransLink is pleased with the federal government‘s renewed support to fund infrastructure as announced in today’s budget, “Economic Action Plan 2013.” The Building Canada plan introduced in the budget renews and expands existing infrastructure programs, which are scheduled to expire in 2013-14.

Federal government funding has been, and continues to be, critical to building the strong and vital public transportation network that the people of Metro Vancouver rely on every day. Long-term infrastructure projects, made possible with federal funds, help ease the pressures of congestion, air pollution and the cost of moving goods through the region’s network of roads, bridges and transit.

“Thanks to federal funding, we made essential investments that will serve our region for years to come,” says Ian Jarvis, TransLink CEO. “Federal investments have helped increase transit ridership in Greater Vancouver by 57 per cent and continue to create jobs, improve commute times and productivity, reduce road congestion and reduce vehicle emissions. This brings the region closer to its long-term vision of a livable and economically-vibrant region.”

Through vital federal funds like the Building Canada Fund and Gas Tax Fund, the region has reaped the benefit of more than $2 billion in federal money over the last decade. TransLink now moves almost 80 per cent more people by transit.

Projects made possible by senior government support include:

• Completion of the Canada Line, which helped deliver a successful transportation experience during the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010
• Creation of one of the most accessible bus fleets in Canada
• Completion of a seismic upgrade on the Knight Street Bridge
• Improvements for pedestrian safety, and enhanced vitality of streetscapes
• Procurement of fuel-efficient vehicles and building one of the most modern transit fleets in North America
• Replacement of a SeaBus in 2010 and procurement of a second replacement SeaBus
• Completion of West Coast Express cars and station upgrades
• Construction of Evergreen Line expansion and critical upgrades to SkyTrain stations underway
• Introduction of Compass smart card and faregates system later this year.

As a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), TransLink is confident that continued investment in transportation infrastructure through these funds will enable transit and transportation authorities to best achieve economic, transportation and environmental objectives of all levels of government.

TransLink seeks Public Advisory Committee members

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:40:00 -0800

TransLink seeks Public Advisory Committee members
People in Northeast Sector needed to give input about area transit plan

VANCOUVER—Applications are now open for people who live, work or study within Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Belcarra and Anmore to join TransLink’s new Public Advisory Committee (PAC). The committee will provide community perspective into the recently-initiated Northeast Sector Area Transit Plan.

Those interested in joining the Public Advisory Committee can get more information and an application form at translink.ca/nesatp. Applications, submitted online or through the mail, are due March 18, 2013.

TransLink’s area transit plans identify long-term visions and near-term priorities for an area’s transit network and are undertaken for seven areas within Metro Vancouver. The plans consider community input, current and projected land use and growth and transportation-related data findings, such as automated passenger counts. The Northeast Sector Area Transit Plan will coordinate transit planning with municipal land use planning while considering the future of the area.

“Input from those who live, work or study in the area, stakeholders and municipalities is key to the success of the plan,” says Bob Paddon, executive vice president, Strategic Planning and Public Affairs at TransLink. “We want to hear from people in the Northeast Sector about what works and what can work better when it comes to transit.”

Stakeholders and the public will have a variety of opportunities to provide feedback during the 18-month process, including through public consultation events and online surveys. “We’re going to reach out to people regularly,” says Paddon. “It’s important that we have lots of input from members of the Public Advisory Committee, stakeholders and the public so that we make better informed decisions and end up with a plan people embrace and support.”

The Public Advisory Committee members are a meaningful part of TransLink’s stakeholder and public consultation process. Input collected from the committee will be part of other feedback collected through consultation during the development of TransLink’s Northeast Sector Area Transit Plan.

Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain system receives upgrades

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Construction has begun at Metro Vancouver’s Main Street-Science World Station, the first of seven SkyTrain stations to undergo accessibility and safety improvements over the next three years.

Metrotown, Commercial-Broadway, Scott Road, Surrey Central, New Westminster, and Joyce-Collingwood stations will also undergo upgrades. Work is anticipated to be finished by 2016.

The upgrades at the seven stations cost $164 million, with funding provided by the Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia and TransLink.

The Government of Canada is providing $41 million through the Building Canada Fund.

“Our Government has made significant investments to help make public transit safer and more convenient across the Lower Mainland,” said the Honourable James Moore, Minister Responsible for British Columbia. “These upgrades will make the SkyTrain system more secure and user-friendly, while creating local jobs and economic growth in the Vancouver region.”

The Government of British Columbia is contributing $83 million.

“Over the last 10 years, our government has provided $2 billion to TransLink to help improve the quality of life for families and communities,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak. “These station upgrades will help to ensure the SkyTrain system can continue to serve demand as the population grows and more British Columbians switch from driving to more environmentally friendly choices like taking transit, cycling and walking.”

TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, will contribute $40 million for the upgrades.

“These upgrades are prioritized based on the greatest need for accessibility and safety considerations,” said Ian Jarvis, CEO, TransLink. “These stations will meet the needs of our ridership for years to come, thanks to the help of senior government partners."

Upgrades to Main Street-Science World include new, more accessible station entrances, a new elevator, escalators, enhanced weather protection and lighting, as well as new retail space and bike parking facilities. Work will coincide with the installation of faregates.

Background Information
• Launched into regular service in January 1986, SkyTrain is the world’s first and one of the world’s longest fully-automated, driverless rapid transit systems.
• The SkyTrain system comprises three lines, 47 stations and nearly 69 kilometres of track.
• In 2011, the SkyTrain system carried nearly 117 million passengers.
• A fourth SkyTrain line, the Evergreen Line, will open in 2016 and will include seven stations and an additional 11 kilometres of track.

Learn More
Main Street Science World Station Upgrades
Expo Line Upgrade Strategy
Project & customer impact information: Ontrack Page

TransLink finalizes plans to optimize bus service in late 2013

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0800

VANCOUVER – After extensive public consultation, TransLink has finalized changes planned for more than 30 bus routes across the region, to make the best use of existing transit resources.

“With the public’s help, we’re changing some bus service to better match travel demand, and make our system more efficient while meeting the needs of our communities,” says Doug Kelsey, Chief Operating Officer at TransLink. “It’s all part of TransLink’s commitment to optimize the services we provide, and do even more with what we have.”

The changes, which are slated for implementation in late 2013 to early 2014, are part of TransLink’s ongoing program of service optimization. The program aims to move service to where it is needed most and make the best use of limited funds. Details of all changes and feedback can be found in the consultation summary.

For 2013, staff proposed changes to 34 routes. The public weighed in through 11 open houses and an online questionnaire in November and December 2012. More than 800 comments were gathered on all aspects of the proposals.

Based on feedback from the public, several proposals were revised, including:

• C1/C2 – an alternate proposal was developed in consultation with community groups in Burnaby Heights, retaining the current route and reducing frequencies during off-peak periods only
• 211 – with a range of feedback raised over the proposed removal of the Fairway Drive loop, TransLink has chosen to retain the existing route instead
• C48 & C49 – a revised proposal was created to ensure service coverage in Thornhill, Ruskin and Whonnock is maintained, leaving the C49 unchanged and improving the usefulness of the C48 with a connection to West Coast Express and extension via McClure Drive in Albion

In recent years, TransLink’s service optimization program has returned successful results: in 2011, the program helped TransLink provide 14 million new rides without added investment in service, increasing bus productivity by 3.1 per cent and generating a 5.5 per cent increase in transit revenue.

Assaults on transit operators decline in 2012

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:13:00 -0800

Assaults reach seven-year low

(Vancouver) – The number of assaults on bus drivers continues to edge downward, reaching the lowest level in seven years.

Statistics from the Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) indicate that in 2012 there were 116 assaults -- 30 fewer than the previous. That represents a 52 per cent drop from a high of 242 assaults in 2006.

“These latest figures speak well of the work done by CMBC and its union to improve safety for our transit operators,” says Peter Arkell, Assault and WorkSafe Prevention Specialist at CMBC. “Our Violence in the Workplace Committee and Transit Security have made great strides in this area, and we are very encouraged by the recent jail sentences handed to people convicted in incidents in which a transit operator was assaulted.”

Since 2006, TransLink and CMBC have taken pro-active steps to improve safety for transit operators:

Installed Transit Management and Communications (TMAC) system, which enables instant emergency communications with the Transit Communications centre (T-Comm) and pinpoints bus locations using GPS

Installed video cameras on buses and cameras require on all new buses coming into service

Instituted Violence in the Workplace Committee in conjunction with Canadian Auto Workers Local 111 to explore ways of ensuring operator safety

“Assaults of any kind on transit operators pose a high risk to the operators and to the public on and off the bus, so we must continue those efforts,” Arkell goes on. “One assault is too many.”

Not only was the number of assaults down from 2011, but the number of serious (physical or potentially violent) assaults also declined by five percentage points to 23 per cent of the total recorded in 2012.

Backgrounder: Increased Fare Enforcement Delivering Results

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:49:00 -0800

Fare evasion is theft. Like every business that suffers revenue loss when customers refuse to pay for products or services, so does TransLink when people try to ride the system for free.

New legislation went into effect in September 2012, giving TransLink powerful tools to enforce fare compliance on the transit system—people who don’t pay their fares face serious consequences.

$173 fine that escalates by $100 if left unpaid after one year.
Select Transit Security (General Investigation Officers) along with Transit Police, can issue fare infraction tickets, increasing our reach across the system.
After 90 days, ICBC has the power to issue a “refusal to insure” (RTI) for outstanding accounts.
Outstanding tickets can be sent to a collection agency, and an independent agency is now in place.

Legislation is working

Since the legislation has been in place, fare checks have increased but the number of infraction tickets issued has decreased. While it is still too early to claim any clear trends, the results show the legislation is working.

September to November
	2011	2012
Fare Checks	427,073	586,129
Fare Infractions	9,221 violation tickets	8,898 bylaw infractions

With people more aware of the tough new penalties, as well as increased fare enforcement on the system, the new legislation gives us the tools to get people to pay their fair share.

What’s Next

We will continue to conduct random fare audits to assess the impact of the new legislation on fare evasion. We are also currently installing faregates throughout the system which, together with the introduction of Compass in 2013, will provide a new physical and visual barrier to fare evasion.

A new efficient SeaBus to be built to keep service reliable

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:48:00 -0800

VANCOUVER – A new SeaBus will be built to replace the existing MV Burrard Beaver and continue to reliably serve customers connecting between the city of Vancouver and the region’s North Shore communities.

MV Burrard Beaver, which was built in 1976 and has reached the end of its useful life, is safe for service but no longer complies with all of Transport Canada’s current certification standards. This replacement ferry is a requirement to meet these standards.

“SeaBus service is an important component of the region’s integrated transportation system. Building a new SeaBus has been part of our plan since 2009 and will ensure continued quality transit service for people on the North Shore,” says Doug Kelsey, TransLink Chief Operating Officer. “While today’s assets are safe, the replacement ferry will meet contemporary standards, run more efficiently and help keep the air clean.”

Following a rigorous bid process, Damen Shipyards Group of The Netherlands will build the new vessel. Three bids were received through the competitive bid process and evaluated on several criteria including shipyard experience, cost and quality of construction. Damen brings 85 years of experience, building roughly 150 vessels a year that are in service around the world.

This is the second replacement SeaBus. The first replacement SeaBus, MV Burrard Pacific Breeze, came into service in 2010. The new replacement will be similar to MV Burrard Pacific Breeze and include some design updates to improve efficiency, operations, and help protect the environment. The new SeaBus will reduce TransLink’s environmental footprint as it will use less fuel and produce 20 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2) than older vessels. The new vessel will surpasses marine standards to help improve air quality including: 90 per cent less carbon monoxide (CO), 70 per cent less hydro carbons and visible smoke, and 25 per cent less particulate matter.

The $25 million project was first identified in TransLink’s Funding Stabilization Plan that was approved in 2009 and reconfirmed in the 2013 Base Plan.

SeaBus service carries six million passengers a year. The second replacement SeaBus is expected to be in service by Fall 2014. MV Burrard Otter will then be retired from active service and MV Burrard Beaver will be used as a spare vessel.

TransLink service adjustments for Christmas/New Year's

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:15:00 -0800

TransLink will offer “modified” holiday service through the Christmas/New Year’s period, responding to different demands on the system during that time. The schedule variations are too numerous to mention individually, but customers may look them up online at www.translink.ca/holidayservice or use the Trip Planner on TransLink’s website, www.translink.ca, or on the mobile site, m.translink.ca.

Christmas Eve, Monday Dec. 24
All service will run normal weekday schedules. The West Coast Express afternoon departures from Waterfront will be at 1, 3, 4:20, 5:30 and 6:20 p.m. TrainBus will run regular service, except there will be no 12:55 bus.

Christmas Day, Tuesday Dec. 25
The vast majority of bus routes will operate on a Sunday schedule, but some of the lesser-used routes will run even less frequently.

Boxing Day, Wednesday, Dec. 26
Most bus routes will run on Sunday schedules, but some routes serving corridors that are historically popular with people on post-Christmas outings will run on Saturday schedules. These include the 99 B-Line, the #130 Metrotown/Cap U and the #236 Grouse Mountain/Lonsdale Quay. The #228 Lynn Valley/Lonsdale Quay and #239 Cap U/Park Royal will run later to meet the SeaBus schedule.

SeaBus will start at the Sunday time of 8:16 a.m. but run until 1 a.m. – the Saturday finishing time.

West Coast Express will not run on Christmas or Boxing Day, but will resume regular service on Dec. 27 and 28.

New Year’s Eve, Monday, Dec. 31
Once again, TransLink will continue the tradition of helping New Year’s revellers get home safely when they may have “had a few”, by providing free rides to all customers, beginning at 5 p.m. until the end of service.

SkyTrain Expo/Millennium Line will extend service later, with the last train leaving Waterfront for King George at 2:16 a.m.

SkyTrain Canada Line will close one hour later than usual: the last departure from Waterfront to YVR-Airport will be at 2:05 a.m. and the last departure from Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse at 2:15 a.m.

Many bus routes will continue running later into the evening, overlapping at times with NightBus service. Route-by-route details can be found online.

West Coast Express, as it does on Dec. 24, will depart Waterfront in the afternoon at 1, 3, 4:20, 5:30 and 6:20 p.m., and once again, there will be regular TrainBus service, except there will be no 12:55 bus.

New Year’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1
All services will run on Sunday/Holiday schedules; West Coast Express will not run.

Regular service resumes Wednesday, Jan 2.

TransLink wishes all its customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Reindeer Bus Rolls Out 27th year of Toys for Tots

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:04:00 -0800

Collecting for the Christmas Bureau Dec 19 & 20

For its 27th year, TransLink staff are collecting new and unwrapped toys for its employee-driven “Toys for Tots” campaign. Just before Christmas Day, the hugely popular ReindeerBus and Community ReindeerShuttle, with their antlers and bright red noses, will carry the donations, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus and their jolly elves to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.
“Toys for Tots” was started in 1985 by a group of drivers with BC Transit (at the time) out of the Surrey Transit Centre, who wanted to do something for less-fortunate families at Christmastime. Since then, it has grown exponentially, with staff from all depots catching the true meaning of Christmas. “It’s not just about the 8 of us on the buses,” says Sparky the Elf (a/k/a Instructor John Strachan), “it’s all of us coming together and seeing faces light up.”
Througout this week, the ReindeerBus and Community ReindeerShuttle have been doing double-duty: operating in regular service on routes chosen on a daily basis and visiting locations such as Canuck Place, Ronald McDonald House and Simon Fraser Community Living, spreading holiday cheer to people who may need it most. Anyone spotting either bus is always welcome to take pictures to spread the holiday cheer on social media sites and enter the Buzzer blog contest.

Beginning Wednesday, December 19, the ReindeerBus and Community ReindeerShuttle will tour all 7 transit depots, plus the TransLink Lost Property Office, West Vancouver Transit, CMBC head office in Surrey, TransLink headquarters at Metrotown, Transit Police and SeaBus. The entire supply will be delivered to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau on Thursday, December 20.
Since the start of “Toys for Tots”, employees have delivered a total of 55,259 toys. Last year 2,846 toys and $42,000 in cash and gift cards were donated; generosity that has continued year after year.

Bus Operator Assailant Gets Nine Months in Jail

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:54:00 -0800

Courts send clear message: violence will not be tolerated

A jail sentence handed to a man arrested in September after a transit operator was assaulted indicates the seriousness with which courts are taking such offences.

Carlos Monge was sentenced to nine months for two counts of assault, one of assault and theft under $5000 and one count of robbery — some of these charges were not related to incidents involving transit.

In September, Monge was removed from SkyTrain at Marine Drive Station for creating a disturbance. He then tried to get a free ride on a bus and when he was refused, he assaulted the operator, along with a woman on the bus who had dialled 911 on her cell phone. When he tried to run away, a Transit Supervisor stopped him and cornered him in a building until
Transit Police arrived and investigated.

“This is one of the longer sentences we have seen for an incident in which a transit operator has been assaulted,” says Peter Arkell, Coast Mountain Bus Company Assault and WorkSafe Prevention Specialist. “We’re working hard with our partners across the TransLink enterprise to reduce violence in the workplace. It’s encouraging that the courts are sending a message that acts such as these will not be tolerated.”

Following nine months in jail, Monge will spend 18 months on probation. He may have no contact with the operator he assaulted during that time.

TransLink, its operating companies and Transit Police are collaborating to raise awareness and reduce violence in the workplace. The goal is to ensure bus drivers, SkyTrain Attendants and other front-line customer service personnel can go to work in safety.

Late-Night Lane Closures December 4th, 5th & 6th

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:42:00 -0800

Due to testing of new electronic tolling systems on the Golden Ears Bridge, access to the turn-off lane to 113B Ave. from Golden Ears Way in Langley will be blocked or restricted.

The closure will be in effect Tuesday, December 4th; restrictions will be in place Wednesday, December 5th and Thursday, December 6th, all between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Detour signs will be in place.

TransLink thanks motorists for their patience while this work goes on.

Buses Return to Robson Square December 3

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:12:00 -0800

Please note that the #5 Robson/Downtown bus and the N6 West End NightBus will return to their regular route, travelling through the 800 block of Robson Street (Robson Square), beginning with the first bus, Monday, Dec. 3.

5 Robson/Downtown Map

N6 NightBus Map

All Aboard! West Coast Express Santa trains

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:39:00 -0800

Donate an unwrapped toy & hop on board December 8 & 15

On Saturday, December 8th and Saturday, December 15th, the extremely popular West Coast Express Santa Train will be back on track, offering free rides to passengers in return for new, unwrapped toys.

Now in its 16th year, the Santa Train collects toys on behalf of the Christmas bureaus throughout the communities West Coast Express serves including; SHARE in the Tri-Cities; the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society; and, the Christmas Bureau in Mission.

In 2011, West Coast Express collected more than 3900 toys and $1260 in cash donations.

"When we first launched the Santa Train 16 years ago, we carried about 1200 passengers over the two-day event and now we are carrying more than 2500 passengers on the two Saturdays,” said Fred Cummings, President and General Manager of West Coast Express. "West Coast Express passengers have embraced the Santa Train because it's a fun-filled way to give back to families in need in their communities."

Want to come along for the ride? Bring a new, unwrapped toy to any West Coast Express Station on either December 8 or December 15 and in exchange for your new unwrapped toy, you will receive a same-day return ticket for the West Coast Express.

The Santa Train is fun for the entire family. Santa will be on board the morning train to Waterfront Station to visit with kids of all ages, and he can be found in the West Coast Express concourse at Waterfront Station in the afternoon (3-4 p.m.) for photos.

West Coast Express is also supporting a Food Drive in the northeast sector by collecting non-perishable food donations at any of its stations from December 8 to December 15.

Please note: While food donations are greatly appreciated, to hop on board a Santa Train and receive a free return-ticket, each passenger must donate a new, unwrapped toy.

Westbound in the AM - Eastbound in the PM

Westbound	Departure Time	Eastbound	Departure Time
Mission	10:00 a.m.	Waterfront	4:00 p.m.
Port Haney	10:19 a.m.	Port Moody	4:24 p.m.
Maple Meadows	10:25 a.m.	Coquitlam Central	4:29 p.m.
Pitt Meadows	10:29 a..m	Port Coquitlam	4:34 p.m.
Port Coquitlam	10:39 a.m.	Pitt Meadows	4:44 p.m.
Coquitlam Central	10:45 a.m.	Maple Meadows	4:48 p.m.
Port Moody	10:50 a.m.	Port Haney	4:54 p.m.
Waterfront	11:15 a..m	Mission	5:15 p.m.

SkyBridge Closure Sunday November 18

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:14:00 -0800

SkyTrain Temporary Service Change Sunday, Nov. 18

On Sunday, November 18, 2012, frequent bus service will be provided between Columbia Station and Scott Road Station to accommodate the temporary closure of SkyTrain’s SkyBridge (from opening until 9:30 a.m.) due to scheduled maintenance.

Buses from Scott Road called “Columbia Station” will run at 3-4 minute intervals beginning at 7 a.m. while buses from Columbia Station called “Scott Road Station” will run at 3-4 minute intervals beginning at 7:01 a.m. Buses will leave and arrive in front of the Columbia SkyTrain Station entrance located on Columbia Street. The first SkyTrain from King George Station will depart at 6:50 a.m., connecting with the first “Columbia Station” bus.

The frequent bus service will be provided until the scheduled maintenance on SkyBridge is complete (at about 9:30 a.m.) and SkyBridge reopens.

Passengers travelling between Columbia and Scott Road stations are being asked to plan for an additional 10-15 minutes to their travel time during SkyBridge maintenance.

The work and temporary closure of SkyBridge will have minimal impacts on the rest of the SkyTrain system.

Highway 1 ExpressBus launches December 1

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:16:00 -0800

New South of Fraser service and other changes coming in December

December will bring the beginning of a new alternative for commuters in Langley and eastern Surrey. The new #555 Port Mann Express will begin service on Saturday, December 1. The bus will travel over the new Port Mann Bridge between the Carvolth Transit Exchange and Park and Ride on 202nd Street in Langley and Braid SkyTrain Station in New Westminster.

The #555 will operate seven days a week, with buses running every 10 minutes in each direction during peak periods – Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – and every half hour the rest of the time, with the last bus leaving each terminus at 11 p.m. This route is expected to generate 3,000 to 4,000 boardings per day.

Customers have several options for connecting to the new #555 service at the Carvolth Transit Exchange and Park and Ride:

Taking transit: the #388, #501, #509, #590, #595 and C62 will now connect to Carvolth.
Cycling: there will be 10 bicycle lockers with rack space for 10 more bikes. For locker rental information, visit http://www.translink.ca/en/Getting-Around/Cycling.aspx.
Carpooling: 15 designated carpool vehicle parking spots will be assigned through a lottery system; carpoolers must register online at travelsmart.ca by December 7 to be part of the lottery.
Getting dropped off: 14 spaces have been designated “kiss-and-ride”.
Driving: with space for 650 regular vehicles, 14 wheelchair-accessible vehicles and 10 motorcycles.

To provide efficient, effective and equitable opportunity for all customers to access the park and ride lot and regional transportation network, a parking charge of $2 per day will be instituted. As an introductory offer, parking will be free for all vehicles until March 31, 2013.

Other services South of the Fraser River will increase as of Monday, December 3. Late-evening trips on the #502 Surrey Central Station/Langley Centre have been heavily used, so two more trips will be added leaving Surrey Central at 9:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., extending 15-minute frequency by an additional hour. Meanwhile, midday service on the #410 22nd St. Stn/Railway in Richmond will increase to every 10 minutes instead of every 12 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To better match transit ridership with demand, and provide more efficient service, the #153 Coquitlam Rec Ctr/Braid Stn and #157 Coquitlam Rec Ctr/Lougheed Stn will now be served by Community Shuttles on weekends and holidays. Midday service on the C40 Port Coquitlam Station/Meridian is being cancelled due to low customer usage.

For more information on these changes, please visit www.translink.ca. Customers can find up-to-date transit information in real time by visiting the mobile website, http://m.translink.ca.

Scheduled Fare Changes Start January 1, 2013

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Changes reflect approved increases

BURNABY – A scheduled transit fare increase in Metro Vancouver will go into effect January 1, 2013. The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) Act allows fares to rise by two per cent annually to cover inflationary costs.

The scheduled increase is part of TransLink’s 2010 Funding Stabilization Plan to support operations and keep the system in a state of good repair. This plan was approved by the Mayors’ Council in 2009 and fare changes reaffirmed TransLink’s Regional Transportation Commissioner in April 2012.

In accordance with the Commissioner’s decision, the fare increase will be held to the allowable two per cent annually. Cash fares have not increased since 2008 and the increase will reflect the past five years of inflationary costs. DayPass, monthly FareCard and HandyDART fares have also been adjusted. The price of FareSaver tickets does not change.

Transit Fares as at January 1, 2013

CASH FARES		Adult	Concession
Regular Fares Weekday service from start of service to 6:30 p.m.	1 zone 2 zones 3 zones	$2.75 $4.00 $5.50	$1.75 $2.75 $3.75
Discount Fares Weekdays after 6.30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday and holidays	All zones	$2.75	$1.75

PREPAID FARES		Adult	Concession
Monthly FareCard	1 zone 2 zones 3 zones	$91.00 $124.00 $170.00	$52.00 for all zones
FareSaver Tickets Book of 10	1 zone 2 zones 3 zones	$21.00 $31.50 $42.00	$17.50 N/A N/A
DayPass		$9.75	$7.50

In addition, West Coast Express has also increased its fares.

FACTS ABOUT TRANSIT

o Fares make up 33% of TransLink’s revenue.
o In 2011, TransLink served 233 million rides; 14 million of these rides were delivered at no extra cost by moving existing resources to where they were needed most and serve more customers.
o TransLink has added or is adding 109,000 new service hours, including a new express bus service over the Port Mann Bridge and new B-Line service on King George Boulevard.
o TransLink’s service area is almost 3,000 square kilometres, making it one of the largest and most unique in North America. TransLink is the only transportation authority to provide an integrated network of services that traverses urban areas, agricultural land, protected greenspace, mountains and water.
o 80 per cent more rides have been served over the last decade with only 45 per cent more service.
o In the last three years, transit ridership has outpaced population growth—a 17-per cent increase in ridership compared to a six-per cent increase in population.
o As a result, transit’s share of all trips taken in Metro Vancouver has grown by 40 per cent over the last 10 years—from 10 per cent to 14 per cent.

Moving More People With the Resources We Have

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

TransLink to consult public on plans for more efficient and effective bus service

Members of the public will have an opportunity to offer comments and suggestions on proposals to provide transit service around Metro Vancouver in more efficient and effective ways. Public consultation on a set of proposed bus service optimization changes will begin November 19. Draft plans for refining and redesigning certain services will be presented both online and at a series of local open houses across the region. Feedback received will be taken into consideration as the plans are finalized in the New Year.

Service optimization is a critical part of TransLink’s ongoing program of managing the transit network. Its goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the transit network by reallocating existing resources from areas of low-productivity to areas where demand is higher. Using technology such as automated passenger counters and GPS tracking, TransLink planners can see how each bus route in the system is being used and use this information to better match transit supply to demand.

"Demand for transit service is growing in the region," says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. "Our goal is to match that demand with an efficient service. Last year, we added 14 million more rides at no extra cost. We're building on that success, and have a robust process in place to ensure we're thinking about our customers and taxpayers as we plan and deliver transit service. We’ve done an analysis and now we want to hear from the public."

The guiding principles for Service Optimization were established through consultations in 2010. One of those principles is to maintain service, to the greatest degree possible for transit-dependent customers while being efficient. (The guiding principles for Service Optimization can be found online at www.translink.ca/serviceoptimization)

The increased ridership in 2011 through the optimization initiative generated 5 per cent more transit revenue, simply by shifting resources to where they were needed most. This indicates that service optimization is not only addressing current demand, but also generating more ridership.

The online consultation and open houses will continue through 4pm, December 13, with feedback being used to help finalize service changes. Any service adjustments will take effect later in 2013 or after.

SERVICE OPTIMIZATION 2013 - CONSULTATION SCHEDULE

Online consultation begins Monday, November 19 at www.translink.ca/serviceoptimization. Comments will be welcome until December 13 at 4pm.

VANCOUVER (routes 2, 22, C21, C23)
Tues., Nov. 20, 4-7:30pm, Roundhouse Centre (Room B) – 181 Roundhouse Mews (off Pacific Blvd. at Davie)
2, 22: Combine as 22 and extend some short-turns to Knight and Kingsway
C21, C23: Separate services, extend C21 to Stanley Park and C23 along Terminal Ave

COQUITLAM (routes 153, 159, 177, 179, 189, C24, C29, C30, C38)
Wed. Nov. 21, 4 - 7:30 pm Evergreen Cultural Centre – Studio Theatre – 1205 Pinetree Way
153: Reroute via Schoolhouse Street to expand network coverage and reduce duplication
159, 177: Combine routes and discontinue service on low-demand segments
179, 189: Discontinue existing service and replace with new 188 David Avenue / Coast Meridian
C24: Reroute via Robinson and Foster to improve coverage and reduce duplication
C29, C30, C38: Reroute services near Coquitlam Centre to improve legibility and reliability

NEW WESTMINSTER (routes 101, 154, C98, C99)
Thurs. Nov. 22, 4 – 7:30pm Royal City Centre – Community Room - 620 – 6th St.
101, 154: Realign services to simplify network and improve directness of routes
C98, C99: Discontinue C99 and reroute C98 to improve service to Queensborough Landing area

SURREY (routes 312, 314, 332, 335, 502)
Wed. Nov. 28, 4 – 7:30pm Surrey City Central Library – Meeting Room 120 – 10350 University Drive (next to Surrey Central Station
312: Remove Scottsdale Mall detour to improve travel times and simplify route
314: Remove River Road segment to reduce duplication and simplify route
332, 335: Combine services and reroute via 72nd Ave to Newton Exchange
502: Introduce new 503 express service to Langley / Aldergrove and truncate 502 at Langley Centre

NORTH VANCOUVER (routes 211, 229, N24)
Thurs., Nov. 29, 4 – 7:30pm – Mollie Nye House, 940 Lynn Valley Rd.
211: Remove low-ridership Fairway detour
229: Split service at Lynn Valley and convert lower-demand portion to 227 community shuttle
N24: Reroute northern end of service to connect to Lynn Valley Town Centre

ALDERGROVE/LANGLEY (route 502)
Tues. Dec. 4, 5 – 7:30pm – Aldergrove Community High School (Small gym), 26850 – 29th Ave.
502: Introduce new 503 express service to Langley / Aldergrove and end 502 at Langley Centre

PITT MEADOWS (route C41)
Wed. Dec. 5, 4 – 7:30pm – Pitt Meadows Family Rec Centre, 12027 Harris Road
C41: Convert to two-way service with reduced frequency and reroute via civic centre

MAPLE RIDGE (routes C48 & C49)
Thurs. Dec. 6, 4 – 7:30pm - ACT Arts Centre & Theatre, 11944 Haney Place
C48, C49: Discontinue service on lowest-demand segments and reroute C48 to connect with West Coast Express

WEST VANCOUVER (routes 251, 252)
Tues. Dec. 11, 4 – 7:30pm - West Vancouver Memorial Library (Welsh Hall), 1950 Marine Dr.
251, 252: Reroute and convert to two-way service with connections to higher-frequency 250

BURNABY (routes C1, C2)
Wed. Dec. 12, 5 – 7:30pm - Gilmore Community School (Gym), 50 South Gilmore Ave.
C1, C2: Combine routes and extend to Kensington Square

Lest We Forget: Vets Ride Free on Remembrance Day

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Tradition continues of honoring those who serve

Once again this year, TransLink and its operating companies will honor men and women who have served in past and current conflicts on Remembrance Day, Sunday, November 11.

Ordinary and Life Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans and the Korean Veterans Association will be able to ride free on any TransLink service (except West Coast Express, which will not run at all on Remembrance Day). Veterans need only show their membership card to receive free transportation. Please note that the free service does not apply to associate members of those organizations.

The free transit service is also extended to current members of the armed services, as well as police (including auxiliaries), firefighters, the Coast Guard, BC Ambulance Paramedics and Department of Fisheries and Oceans Officers. They may ride free in uniform, or on presenting their badge.

“Providing free transit service is one small way of thanking the men and women of the Services for the job they have done over the years in protecting freedom for Canadians and others abroad,” says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis.

Also on Sunday, Coast Mountain Bus Company, West Vancouver Blue Bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and Community Shuttles will observe a period of silence at the stop they reach closest to 11:00 am.
CMBC and SkyTrain will run regular service on Monday, Nov. 12; West Coast Express will not operate that day, but will resume regular service on Tuesday, Nov. 13. TransLink Lost Property and Customer Relations will remain closed on Nov. 12.

Single Track Night Time Service on SkyTrain

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:58:00 -0700

Starting Monday, November 5, 2012, we’re asking SkyTrain passengers who travel on the Expo and/or Millennium lines after 8 p.m.,
Sundays through Thursdays, to plan for up to 15 minutes extra travel time.

We’re replacing about 34 kilometres of original power rail on the Expo Line.
As its name suggests, power rail supplies SkyTrain vehicles with power, approximately 650 volts DC.
Power rail will be replaced in the track sections between Nanaimo and Scott Road Stations and the project is expected to take as many as 15 months to complete.
The first section to be worked on will be between Royal Oak and Edmonds Stations.

The work will happen overnight, most Sundays through Thursdays, starting at 8 p.m. and finishing before start of service the next morning. During power rail replacement work:

• SkyTrain will be single-tracking (when trains run on the same track in alternating directions) between stations where upgrades are being made;

• Trains may be held for up to 5 minutes at a station either before or after the work area;

• Additional trains will operate between Waterfront and Metrotown; and,

• Millennium Line passengers will have to switch trains at Columbia or Commercial-Broadway Stations.

Special circumstances (i.e. major events in downtown Vancouver) may result in the delay or cancellation of work on some nights.

For more information on this OnTrack project or to sign-up for transit service alerts, log on to translink.ca or follow us on Twitter @TransLink.

The Future on Two Wheels

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:03:00 -0700

TransLink survey says: more people are biking than ever

As the semi-annual Bike to Work Week kicks off, the latest TransLink Trip Diary Survey confirms that more and more people are using the two-wheeler to do just that.

According to data collected in the fall of 2011, approximately 106,500 trips per day were taken by bike and 55 per cent of them were to and from work. Cycling has also increased its mode share to 1.8 per cent – its highest level yet.

Key Regional Highlights

The number of bike trips has grown faster than the Metro Vancouver population
• The total number of bike-only trips increased 26 per cent between 2008 and 2011, from 84,300 to 106,500; while the regional population increased 5.8 per cent from 2,186,200 to 2,313,000.
o Notably, the number of bike trips in the City of Vancouver increased by 35%
• 55% of bike trips were to and from work

Bikes are integrating into the transportation network
• As well as the 106,500 trips taken entirely by bike, another 6,200 trips combine cycling with other transportation modes:
o 65% connecting with transit
o 18% connected with a car as the driver
o 13% connected with a car as the passenger
• People who cycle are making use of TransLink’s multi-modal system in which:
o All buses are equipped with bike racks
o Bikes may be brought onto SkyTrain or West Coast Express (with restrictions as to the number of bikes per car and time of day)
o Lockers are available at most SkyTrain stations and many park-and-ride facilities

Who cycles?
• 75% of people who bike are between the ages of 25 & 64; that age group makes up 62% of the general population
• Men are still more likely than women to ride, representing 71% of people who cycle
• Experience with other cities shows women are more likely to ride bikes where there are networks of traffic-protected bikeways.
• Region-wide, there were 4.9 bike trips per 100 residents per day.
o Vancouver (combined with University Endowment Lands) had the highest rate of bike use: 12.1 trips per 100 residents
 Heaviest concentrations of bike use are neighbourhoods along the Broadway Corridor and Strathcona-Commercial Drive.
o Richmond/Delta: 3.4 trips per 100 residents
o North Shore: 2.8 trips per 100 residents
o Burnaby/New Westminster: 2.6 trips per 100 residents
o Langley/Surrey/White Rock: 1.7 trips per 100 residents
o Northeast Sector: 1.7 trips per 100 residents

Untapped cycling potential
• The region’s vision, as articulated by the Regional Cycling Strategy,is a 10% cycling mode share by 2040
• 22% of commute trips by an auto driver were shorter than 5 km, and many of these trips could be converted to bicycle
• TransLink market research from 2010 indicates that nearly 50% of people in the region cycle sometimes, with 25% of people cycling at least once week in at least one season and another 22% cycling at least once a year.

This growth in cycling is significant and likely resulted from a combination of factors including socio-demographic and economic shifts as well as regional efforts to move towards a more transit-oriented region and make significant investments in the transportation system. TransLink is responsible for cycling infrastructure, co-funding and designing bike routes around the region, like the Central Valley Greenway, BC Parkway and the Canada Line bike/pedestrian bridge.

The 2011 trip diary survey includes information about close to 22,000 households. It provides a snapshot of passenger travel patterns and tracks the weekday trip-making behaviour of a random sample of local residents on a 24-hour basis. It is the most comprehensive source of information on overall travel patterns in the region, and is used as a foundation for many transportation decisions made by TransLink and municipalities across Metro Vancouver. The findings from the survey will inform the coming conversation about updating the regional transportation strategy, and how the people who live in Metro Vancouver want to address the transport needs of our growing communities.

A briefing paper containing regional information from the 2011 trip diary survey is attached to this release, and can also be found online along with a video on how biking integrates with Metro Vancouver’s transportaion system at The Buzzer Blog.

More cars stay home

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:55:00 -0700

Trip diary survey finds trips increase – and so do sustainable choices

People in Metro Vancouver are taking more trips in a day, and are more often choosing transit and cycling.

TransLink’s latest trip diary survey – a "snapshot" of a day in the life of Metro Vancouver transportation – finds 14 per cent of all trips were taken on transit. That is the highest transit mode share since comparable surveys started in 1994. The percentage of trips taken by car declined for the first time in recent history.

Key Regional Highlights

People in Metro Vancouver are choosing sustainable transportation for more of their trips, but cars still account for the majority

Transit use as a proportion of all trips increased to 14 per cent in 2011 from 13 per cent in 2008 -- there was a 17 per cent increase in the total number of trips taken on transit. While transit mode share is 14 per cent, the survey found that 19 per cent of people used transit on any one day and 52 per cent used transit in the past month.
Cycling trips accounted for 1.8 per cent of all trips – its highest region-wide mode share yet, and a 26 per cent increase since 2008.
Trips taken by walking stayed at 11 per cent.
The share of people using cars for their trips is down from 2008, but cars still account for the majority of trips: 57 per cent by drivers and 16 per cent by passengers (from 58 per cent and 17 per cent respectively).

Demand for transportation continues to grow - there are more people making trips and individuals are making slightly more trips

A total of 6.1 million trips were taken on a typical fall weekday last year – 5.9 per cent more than in 2008, slightly higher than the increase in the region’s population (5.8 per cent) over that time.
People are making more trips per day – 2.77 trips, versus 2.70 in 2008.
• People in their 40s had the highest average number of daily trips – 3.5 for women, 3.1 for men; likely due to increased family activities at that time of life.

The shift to sustainable modes is a positive trend for the region, but there is a long way to go to achieve the goals set out in the region’s long-range transportation strategy.

TransLink CMBC applaud jail sentences for assaults

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:14:00 -0700

TransLink, CMBC applaud jail sentences for assaults

Time behind bars recognizes the seriousness of the crimes

As a 20-year-old man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to assaulting a bus driver and stabbing a passenger earlier this year, TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) are encouraged by two jail sentences handed down to others who assaulted transit operators.

“Whether it’s spitting, hitting, grabbing, or threatening, assaults on transit employees are deplorable, as they can put the lives of literally dozens of people at risk,” says CMBC Vice-President, Operations, Stan Sierpina. “We are pleased that the courts are recognizing the seriousness of these crimes and we believe that the threat of jail time will send a message to the public that attacking our employees will not be tolerated.”

The incidents occurred in June: in one, a man threatened to slash the throat of an operator in Burnaby, on Edmonds Street near Canada Way. This was the continuation of an incident two days before, in which the man was involved in an altercation with another passenger. Miroslav Butara was sentenced to a total of 15 days in jail for uttering threats (an assault charge was stayed).

The second incident happened on the Downtown East Side, where a woman, Priscilla Crain, spat on a bus driver after he had refused to give her a free ride. She was arrested on the scene, and in addition to the assault, was also charged with a drug offence. She subsequently pleaded guilty to the assault and received a total of 17 days behind bars.

This is a positive sign in terms of sentencing related to cases in which a transit operator has been viciously attacked; some victims have been unable to return to work for a very long time. These court decisions also come as Transit Police are concentrating more resources on the bus system, further enhancing protection for operators.

TransLink, CMBC and the Canadian Autoworkers’ Union have been working to convince governments at all levels to create legislation that provides for a mandatory jail term for those convicted of assaulting transit workers.

Second Quarter Year-to-Date Results Highlight Fiscal Responsibility

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Cost-cutting marks the quarter

VANCOUVER – Second quarter results show aggressive cost-cutting is helping TransLink beat previous budget forecasts and rely less on the reserve fund to pay for programs and services.

“Our focus is on being fiscally responsible,” says Chief Executive Officer Ian Jarvis. “In the quarter, we were challenged to find efficiencies and took the prudent step to pause and revisit our expansion plans. Since then, the entire TransLink enterprise is rallying around an efficiency mandate to effectively contain costs in all areas of the business and find innovative ways to deliver exceptional customer service within the means we have available.”

In the 2012 Second Quarter Financial Performance Report, for the period ending June 30, 2012, TransLink reported revenues at $713.3 million, 10.2 per cent higher than the same period in 2011. This included a sale of surplus property and higher revenue from fares, taxation and tolls. Ridership was up 6.3 per cent from the same period last year, due to moving existing resources to areas that need it most and more people getting on transit. Importantly, customer satisfaction in the quarter remained at record levels at 7.7 out of 10.

Expenditures totalled $672.4 million, 2.6 per cent higher than the same period last year, but six per cent less than budget for the quarter. Operating cost per revenue passenger dropped $0.02 from the same period in 2011 to $3.61. Forecast expenditures for the year are now $25.6 million less than original budget. As a result, TransLink will need to draw down $11 million of reserves to fund programs and services compared to $38 million previously budgeted.

“The reserve fund is meant to cover unexpected events like the significant drop in fuel tax revenue,” adds Chief Financial Officer Cathy McLay. “Given the volatility we’ve seen in the fuel market and other financial challenges we expect over the next three years, the less we need to draw down on the reserve each year to pay for our day-to-day operations, the better financial shape we’re in.

“As a result of our financial position, good governance and the way we manage our business complexities, Moody’s Investor Services has maintained an Aa2 credit rating for TransLink. This, along with positive second quarter results, validates that we are on the right track.”

The second quarter results come on the heels of the draft 2013 Base Plan, the transportation and financing plan for the next three years, released last month. That plan forecasts $472 million less revenue compared to the 2012 Moving Forward Plan due to lower than expected fuel tax revenues, lower than expected fare and toll revenues, and the deferral of the sale of surplus real estate. The most recent plan outlines $98 million in efficiencies and drawing down on the reserve to pay for planned transportation improvements.

Other highlights from the second quarter include:
• Revenue from fuel tax was $3.8 million (2.5 per cent) higher than the previous year, but is slightly less than budget. This increase was the result of the two cent increase in fuel tax that came into effect on April 1, 2012. The 2012 budget is $30 million less than what was forecasted for our 2012 Moving Forward Plan, reflecting a decrease in fuel consumption in the regional area.
• All capital projects were reviewed and evaluated; more than 30 have been cancelled or deferred and 75 projects worth a total of over $810 million were either substantially completed or closed.
• Conventional bus system efficiency rose 3.9 per cent over the first half of 2011 as more service was directed to high-demand areas, making better use of existing bus capacity.
• Average daily crossings on the Golden Ears Bridge rose 6.6 per cent in the first six months of 2012, which contributed to a 17.6 per cent increase in revenue over the same period in 2011.

The full second quarter results are online at: TransLink Corporate Reports.

Transit Service World Music Marathon

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:09:00 -0700

SkyTrain will begin service approximately one hour earlier on Sunday, Sept. 30 in support of the Surrey International World Music Marathon:

First train from Waterfront to King George, leaves at 6:42am (arriving Surrey Central approx.. 7:25)
First train from Edmonds to King George leaves at 6:12am (arriving Surrey Central approx. 6:25)
First train from Lougheed to Columbia leaves at 6:13am (with transfer at Columbia, arrive Surrey Central by 6:40)

Bus service will also be affected, with all buses that serve Surrey Central Station being detoured away from the Marathon route. However, the City of Surrey has closed King George Boulevard between 88th & 108th Ave to all traffic except buses, which will help buses stay close to schedule.

Full details of the detours can be found online at www.translink.ca. Information on road closures is at http://surreymarathon.com/.

View Surrey Marathon Route Map PDF

TransLink wishes every success to all participants in the Marathon.

TransLink Supports International Walk to School Week

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:24:00 -0700

Kids ride free Oct. 8-12

Once again this year, TransLink is putting its support behind International Walk to School Week (iWalk) by offering students free rides on its services during the week of October 8-12.

TransLink supports iWalk each year with the free transit, which will be available to children in kindergarten and elementary school and high school students with a valid GoCard.

“We've supported iWalk since 2006,” says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. "It's an important initiative that encourages students to think of all the options they have to get around the region aside from the car. It's a great opportunity to help prepare another generation of TravelSmart kids.”

TransLink, through TravelSmart, offers TravelSmart for Schools, an in-school program that helps children in grades 6 and 7 become more aware of alternative travel choices. More information can be found at TravelSmart or by calling 604-216-3299 or email info@travelsmart.ca.

The offer of free transit is good anytime between October 8 and 12, and not necessarily for going to and from school. In past years, teachers have been making use of it to take classes on field trips. But it’s important to note that TransLink moves over a million trips per day, so there are some tips teachers might find useful:

1. It’s all about timing: go during “off-peak” hours – between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
2. Do your homework: Use TransLink’s online resources including the Trip Planner or the Mobile Website with real-time Next Bus. Planning the trip could be a fun class project in itself.
3. Do more homework: find out what other teachers in your school are planning trips at the same time and what route(s) they plan to take.
4. A class divided?: If your school is in an area with a relatively high frequency of bus service – or you plan to use SkyTrain, consider splitting the class, with one group taking the following bus or train.
Regardless of the time of day, we can expect to see more people on the transit system during this week, so TransLink encourages regular customers to be patient and welcome our new transit users.

TransLinks Mayors Council Welcomes New Member

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:01:00 -0700

New Mayors' Council member takes her seat

Maria Harris gives voice to UBC-area residents

People who live, work and study at the University of British Columbia and its environs now have a political voice on the TransLink Mayors' Council.

Maria Harris, who was elected in 2008 as the representative for Metro Vancouver Electoral Area "A", attended her first meeting today as an official member of the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation. This means that, for the first time, the rapidly-growing community on the University Endowment Lands and the adjacent neighbourhood is formally represented in TransLink issues.

The Mayor's Council was created in 2008 with the change in governance at TransLink, but the unincorporated Electoral Area "A" was not included in its structure, although Ms Harris did attend meetings as an observer and came to many TransLink public events.

At the request of the Mayors' Council, the provincial government introduced Bill 51, which took effect earlier this month and, among other things, gave the Electoral Area "A" representative a seat on the Council.

On being officially welcomed to the Mayors' Council by Chair Richard Walton, mayor of the District of North Vancouver, Ms Harris said, "I very much look forward to the opportunity to work with everyone here as we seek to make decisions in the best interests of the region."

A former economist at BC Hydro with degrees from UBC and abroad, Ms Harris has lived on the University Endowment Lands (UEL) since 1999. She has taken part in numerous processes related to land-use and community planning, including serving on Metro Vancouver committees, consultation on the Coquitlam watershed and developing the UEL's Official Community Plan.

TransLink's plan delivers fiscal responsibility

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:34:00 -0700

$98 million in annual efficiencies over the next three years

Cutting costs and making the best use of existing resources to drive new revenue is the focus of TransLink's transportation plan for the next three years.

"Our focus is being fiscally responsible," said TransLink Board Chair Nancy Olewiler. "We are delivering an integrated transportation system to keep people and goods moving in the region, while making the most of every dollar we have. Over the next three years, we will live within our means and only deliver those services for which we have the necessary funding."

The draft 2013 Base Plan tabled today identifies an average of $98 million in new efficiencies annually over the next three years. These efficiency measures, along with drawing on the reserve fund, will fill a portion of the funding gap needed to maintain existing services and allow a number of planned transportation improvement projects to proceed.

"We evaluated every project and placed priority on those that not only address immediate needs like overcrowding, but also support long-term goals for the region," said TransLink Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Public Affairs Robert Paddon. "While this draft plan will not fulfil these goals entirely, we are doing everything we can to keep us on a path to a more sustainable future in a fiscally responsible way."

The following planned projects will proceed:

The region's contribution to the Evergreen Line project.
109,000 new hours of transit service. Some hours were implemented in April 2012.
Rapid Bus service on Highway 1 over the Port Mann Bridge from Carvolth Transit Exchange in Langley to SkyTrain in New Westminster, every 10 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during off-peak hours.
B-Line service every seven to eight minutes on King George Boulevard and 104th Avenue between Newton and Guilford.
Upgrades to Expo Line stations including improving capacity and accessibility at Main St. and Scott Road, Metrotown, Commercial-Broadway, Surrey Central, New Westminster and Joyce-Collingwood stations.

In April, the Regional Transportation Commissioner rejected a supplementary fare increase and made several recommendations for more efficient operations. Since then, TransLink's budget has been further challenged by a number of factors, including lower than expected fuel tax revenues, lower than expected fare and toll revenues, and the deferral of the sale of surplus real estate.

Despite aggressive efforts on efficiencies and drawing on reserves, the impact of these lower than expected revenues means that several planned improvements will not proceed:

306,000 hours of bus service hours.
10-minute, off-peak frequency on the Highway 1 Rapid Bus service.
The White Rock Centre extension on the King George Boulevard B-Line service.
Expanded SeaBus service to provide 15-minute service on Sundays and holidays in fall, winter and spring.
Restoring original funding for cycling programs and the Major Road Network.

TransLink is engaging elected officials, key stakeholders and the public to discuss the draft plan before it is finalised by November 1, 2012 and submitted to the Transportation Commissioner for review.

For more information about the 2013 Base Plan and to join the conversation, visit the 2013 Base Plan page.

2013 Base Plan Media Technical Briefing

Surviving a Busy Time on Transit

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700

5 handy hints for surviving the Post-Labour-Day Crunch

The day after Labour Day marks the start of the busiest time of the year for public transportation. With more workers back from summer holidays and students all going at the same time until schedules are set and their travel patterns are spread out, the Post Labour Day Crunch can be an added but unavoidable stress.

If it seems the transit system is more crowded than in past years, you’re probably right. Even though TransLink could not increase service hours, the system still moved 5.5 per cent more riders in 2011 over 2010 and the trend is continuing this year. So a few handy hints should make the ‘PLDC’ a bit more survivable.

1. Have your ticket ready for inspection – Fare evasion is just as illegal as it’s ever been, but as of September 4, TransLink has greater powers to go after people who try to cadge a free ride. Transit Police and Transit Security both have ticket-writing authority and the fines escalate:
a. Initial fine: $173.00
b. If unpaid after 180 days: $213.00
c. If unpaid after 1 year: $273.00
d. ICBC may also refuse to renew your car insurance or driver’s license
e. Unpaid fines may be referred to a collection agency
Save yourself a lot of money and hassle: pay your fare like the vast majority of our customers. For more information on the new procedures, please visit: Fare-Evasion-Tickets
2. Adjust your personal commute – Can you change your starting time? By travelling outside the “traditional” rush hours – generally 7:30-8:30am and 4:30-6pm, you can avoid the peak-of-the-peak travel times.
3. Mind your manners – There’s no avoiding it: your trip will be more crowded in the first few weeks of September, but crowded conditions can be a lot easier to take if we all observe proper etiquette:
a. Remember who gets the good seats – seats nearest the entrance doors should be left for seniors and persons with disabilities.
b. Step back from the doors – when boarding, let passengers get off first; on the buses, move right to the back until you get close to your stop.
Find more tips on etiquette on transit at: Etiquette-on-Transit.
4. West Coast Express customers should remember that ridership tends to drop considerably in the summer, only to surge again in the fall. Keep in mind that trains, station parking lots and lineups for ticket vending machines will all be more crowded.
5. Park and Rides – More and more people are choosing transit and using a park and ride to make the connection – and that’s good. But once a park and ride is full, it’s full. Illegally parked vehicles at South Surrey Park and Ride will be towed; West Coast Express customers should remember that lots at those stations fill up quickly, too. Try to get there early, or get together with some neighbours and carpool to the park-and-ride.
6. Get social! – get connected through TransLink’s award-winning social media channels, like Facebook and Twitter (@translink), as well as our mobile real-time transit information website, m.translink.ca. You can also find out when the next bus leaves a given stop in real time (text the 5-digit bus stop number to 33333).

More information can be found at 604-953-3333 or online at www.translink.ca.

Tougher Penalties for Fare Evasion

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:31:00 -0700

New bylaw takes effect after Labour Day

Starting September 4, trying to get a free ride on the transit system will be tougher. The law has been changed with new penalties for people caught in a fare-paid zone without a valid proof of payment.

The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act now includes a fare collection bylaw that replaces the current provincial statute. This will allow TransLink to take over responsibility for issuing fare infraction tickets, collecting fines, and implementing dispute and appeal processes. The legislation also enables Transit Security, along with Transit Police, to issue TransLink fare infraction tickets.

“Fare evasion is theft and it impacts everyone,” says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. “The new regulation is critical to reducing theft. The provincial government has given us an important new tool to safeguard a significant source of revenue.”

“The vast majority of our customers pay their fares and will not notice any changes,” adds Chief Operating Officer Doug Kelsey. “But, they can be assured that we’re taking action on those who choose not to pay their fare. Our goal is to ensure everyone is paying their fair share across the board.”

The new bylaw is a result of the provincial government’s Bill 51 introduced in May. There are now new penalties for not having a valid proof of payment in a fare paid zone:
• A $173 fine.
• An unpaid fine escalates to $213 after 180 days and $273 after one year.
• Outstanding fines may be referred to a collection agency.
• ICBC may refuse to issue or renew a driver’s licence or vehicle insurance.

A new website – www.translink.ca/fareinfraction – opens on September 4, where those who receive a ticket may pay their fine online, dispute the ticket or appeal a decision. TransLink’s Fare Infraction Administration office, comprised of existing staff, will oversee the administration of the bylaw.

The new bylaw is part of an overall strategy that includes faregates and Transit Police, which will help protect revenue, enhance security and keep the transit system safe.

Robson Re-route Becomes Permanent

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:22:00 -0700

#5, N6 to remain on summertime routing

The end of summer brings a number of changes to the bus schedules in Metro Vancouver, with routes serving post-secondary institutions increasing in frequency while routes that serve beaches and other “summer entertainment” destinations are reduced.

Two bus routes that will continue with the pattern set over the summer are the #5 Robson and N6 West End NightBus. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, those buses were re-routed via Burrard, Pender, Homer and Hastings Streets, to allow for vehicle-free festivities in Robson Square and then the rehabilitation work on the Square. They resumed end-to-end service on Robson since early 2011, but switched back to the alternate route in the summer. Now, the City of Vancouver will be continuing the motor vehicle closure of Robson Square to increase pedestrian space, so the current routing will remain in place.

Buses will return to Granville Mall of the day after Labour Day. This affects the #4, #7, #10, #14, #16, #17, #20 and #50. As has been the practice since the Olympics, these buses will shift to Seymour (northbound) and Howe (southbound) on weekend evenings – from 9pm until the end of service on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and the evening before a statutory holiday.

The #19 Stanley Park/Metrotown will discontinue its summer shuttles from downtown, but service will increase from every 15 minutes to every 12 on Saturdays between noon and 7pm.

Enhanced service to BC Ferries terminals will end, as of Sept. 4, as will routes serving popular summer spots like Buntzen Lake and White Pine Beach.

SeaBus service will return to 30-minute frequency on Sundays and holidays.

For full information on transit service changes taking effect Sept. 3-4, please visit the Transit Service Changes webpage.

Improving Service Through Efficiency

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Redirecting services to where they are needed most

TransLink is putting existing transit resources to the most effective use in order to ease overcrowding on routes South of the Fraser and at Simon Fraser University.

“Demand for transit service is growing South of Fraser and all across the region,” says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. “So far we have been able to avoid a reduction in service hours by addressing costs and we are redirecting our existing service hours to where they are needed the most.”

As of Monday, Sept. 3,
• #143 Coquitlam Stn/SFU will run every 12 minutes instead of every 15 eastbound from 2-4pm, Monday to Friday.
• the #145 Production Way Stn/SFU will also improve to every 12 minutes southbound from 4-9 pm Monday-Friday
• #135 Burrard Stn/SFU will increase frequency to every 15 minutes on Saturdays from 9-11pm.

In Surrey,
• #345 White Rock Centre/King George Stn will run every 20 minutes during the weekday morning peak period, instead of every 30.
• #395 King George Stn/Willowbrook will increase frequency to every 12 minutes from every 15 in the morning and every 20 minutes instead of every 30 in the afternoon. All trips on the #395 will start at 200th St & 64th Ave; currently, some rush hour trips begin at 176th St. In September, these trips will also begin at 200th & 64th, providing more transit options for people living in the area and reducing the pressure on the #502 Aldergrove/Brookswood/Langley/Surrey Central route.
• #640 Scott Rd Stn/Ladner Exchange will convert from a Community Shuttle bus after 8 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays to a conventional 40’ bus, responding to increased demand caused by industrial growth along River Road. This builds on improvements in the #640 made in June, when morning rush hour service was increased.
• #501 Surrey Central/Langley Centre will run more frequently Saturdays, noon to 3pm.

So far this year, the South of Fraser area has also seen direct benefits from increased service on the #502 Langley Centre/Surrey Central, which added four more trips in the morning and evening rush hours; the #320 Langley Centre/Surrey Central also increased rush-hour service in the past year between Fleetwood and Surrey Central.

Further east, the #595 bus, which crosses the Golden Ears Bridge, will take a shorter route as of September 3 and travel only between Langley Centre and Maple Meadows Station. There has not been sufficient demand for the bus to go all the way to Haney Place Mall, which it has done since its inception. The #595 meets the West Coast Express and customers needing to continue towards Haney Place may transfer to the #701 Haney Place.

These service improvements have been made possible by redirecting service hours to where they are needed most. This means that certain routes will run less frequently at certain times of the day or night. The change may be barely noticeable – a 9-minute gap instead of 7 – or it may be significant, like moving from half-hour service to 60-minute service. Customers should check schedules to see how or whether their route is affected and plan their travel accordingly.

In 2011, the second year of TransLink’s Service Optimization Initiative, productivity was improved by 3.1 per cent, with 5.6 per cent more rides than in 2010.

For more information, please visit the Transit Service Changes webpage.

Changes Coming at Bus Loops

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:32:00 -0700

Changes coming at bus loops

Bus bays to be re-assigned at certain exchanges

Students returning to classes at the University of British Columbia will find a few changes in their transit services.

As of Tuesday August 28, the UBC trolley bus loop will move from its current location on the north side of University Boulevard (next to War Memorial Gym) to the south side. The #4 Powell, #9 Boundary (beginning Sept. 4, as it only operates during weekday peak periods during the school year), #14 Hastings and N17 NightBus will all board facing eastbound. New shelters will be erected in October and bicycle lockers will also be available. More details of the new transit layout are available at: UBC Loop Re-opening

Also on August 28, the C19 Alma/UBC, C20 Marine Dr/Totem Park and C22 Hampton Place/UBC, which had been using the trolley bus loop during the summer, will return to their usual terminus on Student Union Blvd (outside the Student Recreation Centre).

On Monday, Sept. 3, new bus bay locations will take effect at Bridgeport and New Westminster Stations.

Bridgeport

#403 Three Road from Bay 4 to Bay 11
#407 Gilbert and #430 Richmond-Brighouse Stn from Bay 5a to Bay 10
C92 Sea Island South from Bay 11 to new Bay 5a (on south side)
HandyDART will return to its regular stop on the north side between Bays 9 & 10
C90 Sea Island North will be discontinued

New Westminster

In response to suggestions from customers and the community, three Community Shuttle routes will change their boarding locations:

C3 Fraserview to a revised Bay 9 location on 8^th St. between Columbia and the station entrance
C4 Uptown to Bay 1 just south of the revised Bay 9 location on 8^th St
C8 Quayside to Bay 8 on the south side of Carnarvon (kitty-corner from Blackie St)

For more information, please visit www.translink.ca.

Pattullo Bridge Reopens

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:36:00 -0700

Pattullo Paving Complete
TransLink thanks the public for their patience!

Work to repave the southeast bend on the Pattullo Bridge is complete, and TransLink would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation while the bridge was closed.

The closure, which ended at 3:00 this (Monday) morning, allowed crews to pave over a portion of the bridge, which was becoming a safety concern.

“Closing the bridge entirely, for the entire weekend, made certain that our workers could do the job safely, as well as complete the task with minimal overall disruption,” says Darren Woodworth, TransLink Senior Project Manager. “We greatly appreciate both the quick and effective work by the crews and the cooperation and understanding of the public.”

The closure also allowed for spot inspections of the concrete bridge deck and the completion of necessary short-term repairs.

Pattullo Bridge Closures August 14

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:17:00 -0700

The Pattullo Bridge will be closed to all traffic (including bicycles and pedestrians) from 9pm Friday, August 17 until 3am Monday, August 20.

This is to allow re-paving of portions of the 75-year-old bridge where damage to the asphalt pavement at the south end has become a safety concern. TransLink will also take this opportunity to examine the bridge deck and possibly repair some of the corroded pedestrian guard rail.

The City of Surrey will also take the opportunity to do repaving work along King George Boulevard. King George Boulevard will be closed west of 128 Street except to local traffic, buses and emergency vehicles. Vehicles can access Scott Road Station via 128 Street, 110 Avenue and northbound Scott Road. The City will notify affected businesses.

Motorists should plan alternate routes to get from one side of the Fraser River to the other. The N19 NightBus will be re-routed via the Alex Fraser and Queensborough Bridges and the #321 on Sunday morning will be terminated at Scott Road. Customers on both routes should plan on longer travel time.

One lane will be kept open to allow fire, police and ambulance vehicles to get across the bridge, if need be.

If there is rain that weekend – heavier than showers – the work will be postponed until August 24-27.

TransLink apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this work, which is necessary to ensure road safety and the longevity of the bridge, and thanks everyone for their patience.

Come to the Fair on Transit Of Course

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Mini-doughnuts, demolition derby, 4H displays and thrill rides can only mean one thing: the PNE is back! The Fair kicks off Saturday, August 18, and as it has for over a century, public transit can get you there and bring you home again without worrying about the cost and time spent using a private vehicle.

In addition to regular transit service – the #14 and #135 stop directly outside the PNE grounds, while the #16 stops on Renfrew, south of Hastings – TransLink services will provide special buses to connect with the SkyTrain Expo/Millennium Line.

The main transfer locations are at 29th Ave. SkyTrain Station and Renfrew SkyTrain Station, where PNE Specials will run every 15 minutes from 9:30am until midnight.

Northbound: due to faregate construction, customers may have to exit 29th Ave. Station on the south side, towards Slocan Park to get to the bus loop.

Other PNE Specials will run:

From Phibbs Exchange in North Vancouver to Pacific Coliseum every 15 minutes from 9:30am until midnight
From Horseshoe Bay to Pacific Coliseum at 9:25 and 10:25am and 12:30 and 4:20pm (stopping at Park Royal 20 minutes later), with additional trips leaving 25th and Marine at 11am, 12:45pm and 2:30pm
Return trips leave to West Vancouver leave Pacific Coliseum at 1:30 (to Park Royal only), 3:10, 4, 5:30, 6:20, 7:30 and 8:20pm (to Horseshoe Bay) with a final trip to 25th & Marine at 10:50pm.
The #14 UBC will leave Kootenay Loop a few minutes early during peak periods to allow for delays at stops serving the PNE.

SkyTrain will run its regular service schedules throughout The Fair, but will add extra service if needed to handle extra crowds.

For more information, please visit www.translink.ca or call 604-953-3333.

TransLink Statement on Executive Compensation

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:47:00 -0700

Statement from Nancy Olewiler, Board Chair

On July 25, 2012, the provincial government implemented new policy measures under the Public Sector Employers Act to reform executive compensation at Crown corporations.

While TransLink is not governed by this act, TransLink’s executive compensation program falls within the guidelines identified by this new policy.

TransLink’s program offers an incentive pay component, in which executives can earn up to 15% of their annual pay. The incentive is non-pensionable and similar to the new salary holdback policy change. The incentive is neither automatic nor guaranteed, and is tied to achieving both corporate and individual performance goals and targets. If these conditions are met, the amount for which each individual qualifies is assessed. If these conditions are not met, no incentive is paid.

In addition, CEO total compensation is set well within the Crown comparators, with the non-pensionable, incentive also tied directly to performance and results.

TransLink has also taken action to reduce overall executive compensation. Key examples include:

The number of executives has been reduced by half since 2009.
Non-executive employees are not eligible for this incentive program.
TransLink has a similar government business travel expense reimbursement policy.
The only executive perquisite is the business transportation allowance.

TransLink’s board of directors is reviewing executive compensation for 2012, and will consider the government’s new policy changes as part of that review.

Transit Service to Caribbean Days and Celebration of Light

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:02:00 -0700

Taking transit to summer celebrations
Extra service, crowd management procedures, make a smooth trip there and back

Two of Metro Vancouver’s more popular – and populous – celebrations return later this month, and the TransLink family is gearing up to help you get there and back safely and conveniently. Caribbean Days in North Vancouver, Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29 and the Honda Celebration of Light at English Bay, Saturday, July 28, Wednesday, August 1 and Saturday, August 4 will add tens of thousands of people to the transit system on those days.

SkyTrain

• Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines will provide “rush-hour” service on all three nights beginning in mid-afternoon, with every available train in service after the show to clear people out of the area as quickly as possible.
• The last Expo/Millennium Line train will leave Waterfront Station for King George at 1:16 am
• The last Canada Line train will leave Waterfront for Richmond-Brighouse at 1:15 am.
• Trains will continue to run until everyone has been picked up from the downtown platforms (customers must be inside the stations when the gates are closed).

Certain crowd-management procedures will be in effect. These are designed to move people along the transit system as efficiently as possible, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

• PRE-PURCHASE RETURN TICKETS: In order to avoid lineups at ticket vending machines, buy your return tickets en route to the fireworks. Portable fareboxes will be at:
o King George
o Granville (The Bay concourse)
o Burrard
o Bridgeport
o Yaletown-Roundhouse
o Vancouver City Centre
These fareboxes only accept exact cash fare; tickets are valid until the close of service.
• WATERFRONT STATION:
o As of 10:30 pm, access via Cordova Street (main entrance) will only be for Canada Line and SeaBus customers, as well as persons with mobility devices and strollers.
o Expo/Millennium Line customers will enter via the Howe Street entrance on the west side (nearest Canada Place).
o Customers going to Canada Line may also enter Waterfront Station via the entrance at Granville and Hastings Streets.
o Customers transferring from SeaBus to any SkyTrain line will need to leave the station and join the lineup outside.
• YALETOWN-ROUNDHOUSE STATION: customers will line up along Mainland Street.
• NO “SEAT CAMPING”: As of 10:30 pm, trains heading to Waterfront will not pick up passengers (except those with disabilities and families with strollers) at Yaletown-Roundhouse, Vancouver Centre, Burrard and Granville Stations. This is to prevent people from staying on the train at Waterfront to grab a seat for the return trip. Other passengers arriving at Waterfront will have to leave the train and either transfer to SeaBus or leave the station and line up outside the Howe Street or Granville Plaza entrance.
• At Granville Station, the Seymour Street and Granville Mall entrances will be closed at 10 pm. Customers are to line up along Granville Mall and enter via the Dunsmuir entrance.
• BICYCLES may be restricted inbound on SkyTrain during the evenings, and there will be no bikes permitted on SkyTrain at all from 10:30 pm until the crowds have cleared – generally between midnight and 1 am.
• Elevators are available at all downtown stations: priority is given to persons with mobility devices and families with strollers.

Coast Mountain Buses – will have additional coaches available on all three nights, with transit supervisors monitoring the situation to deploy the buses as needed.

Customers arriving by SkyTrain may transfer at Burrard Station to the #5 or #22; however, due to the traffic restrictions in the West End during that time, the #5 will only go as far as Robson and Denman, then turn back via Georgia to the regular route; the #22 will go as far as Burrard and Davie. The #6 will also turn around at Burrard and Davie.

West Vancouver Transit – will have additional coaches running from Horseshoe Bay and 25th/Marine; although the majority of special buses will go to and from Park Royal, where there is ample free parking. For return trips, buses will be staged at key locations along Georgia Street from approximately 10:45 pm.

Blue Bus will also provide shuttle bus service to the smaller celebration area at Dundarave in West Vancouver.

SeaBus – in order to handle traffic for both Caribbean Days and the opening night of Celebration of Light, SeaBus is pressing all three vessels into action on July 28-29. Ferries will run every 10 minutes from each side between 10am and 8pm on Saturday and 11am and 7pm on Sunday. Ferries will run every 15 minutes on Saturday from 8-9 am and from 8pm until midnight; on Sunday from 9:30-11am and 7-9pm. Last sailings leave Waterfront at 1:22 am Monday to Saturday; 11:16pm on Sunday.

On the last two days of Celebration of Light, SeaBus will extend its two-ferry (15-minute) service until midnight.

West Coast Express – will provide service on final night – August 4 – only, leaving Mission City at 7pm and returning from Waterfront at midnight.

Transit Police – will be on-hand throughout the system to assist local police and maintain order. They have some hints for safe enjoyment of the fireworks:
• Be aware of your surroundings and keep your personal belongings safe by closing purses and keeping wallets in inside pockets. Don’t display personal devices like iPhones and tablets in the open.
• Inappropriate conduct (intoxicated or not) and open alcohol are not permitted on the transit system.
• Have a plan in place with the family or friends you are traveling with. Have a ‘go to’ location in case you are separated.
• Go before you go - there are no restrooms at bus stops or SkyTrain stations
• Be prepared to present your proof of payment, if requested. Transit is not free on fireworks nights.

To help ease the flow of pedestrian traffic after the fireworks shows, the City of Vancouver is establishing additional exit routes to supplement the main streets. These routes follow Gilford, Burnaby and Beach Drive.

If there are any unexpected changes to transit service, information will be broadcast via Twitter. Follow TransLink on @translink.

TaxiSaver Program Update 2

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700

TaxiSaver Program Update #2
Message from Nancy Olewiler, TransLink Board Chair
July 11, 2012

TransLink’s Board of Directors will maintain the TaxiSaver program, reversing its original decision to eliminate the program.

The original decision grew out of discussions on how to meet growing demand for custom transit services, including HandyDART. The goal was to redirect funding from TaxiSavers to improve these services. On May 30, the board put that decision on hold pending further engagement with a broader range of stakeholders. For the past several weeks, TransLink’s board and staff have been participating in meetings in the region to listen to concerns and discuss ideas. We have heard that the TaxiSaver program provides a valuable service to those in need, and is integral to making the transit system accessible for them.

Through this engagement, TransLink has also heard many good ideas and suggestions on how to make overall custom transit services better for those who need it most. We are committed to working closely with Access Transit’s Users’ Advisory Committee, persons with disabilities, seniors and other stakeholders from across the region on an ongoing basis to help find ways of improving these services. By continuing to listen to a broad spectrum of stakeholders on their ideas, TransLink’s goal is to continue to provide reliable, valuable and sustainable custom transit services.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the meetings, wrote and called us. We appreciate that you shared your insights with us. On behalf of the TransLink board, management and staff, we sincerely look forward to your continued feedback to help us improve accessibility of the public transit network for everyone.

TransLink Credit Rating Remains AA

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:20:00 -0700

TransLink credit rating remains “AA”

DBRS assessment seen as endorsement of management

TransLink’s bond rating – a key yardstick in assessing a company’s fiscal performance – remains at AA (Stable), according to Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS). The agency cited TransLink’s “sound governance structure” and “cautious management” in confirming the ratings for both Counterparty and Senior Unsecured Debt.

“It’s important to note that our rating was confirmed even in the face of the operating and expansion pressures we’re currently facing,” says TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis. “We have to meet the needs of our customers and our growing region, but we also have to maintain high-quality credit ratings to ensure we can continue to access the capital markets on the most cost-effective basis.”

The DBRS assessment cautions about the current uncertainty over funding. Although TransLink had a funded deficit (as defined in the SCBCTA Act) of $34.3 million in 2011, this was $24.8 million better than budget and TransLink still has a healthy reserve ($288 million) at year end. DBRS says the decision by the TransLink Commissioner to reject a fare increase higher than the rate of inflation and the Mayors’ Council request to remove the temporary property tax increase as a funding option will put increased pressure on operations until funding certainty is attained. DBRS credits TransLink with a “conservative” approach for the decision to defer further large projects and concentrate on maintaining current services in a state of good repair.

“This announcement will help us continue to get favourable financing and reduce the burden on taxpayers,” adds Chief Financial Officer Cathy McLay. “This is the second major show of support from the investment community this year for our management.” Earlier this year, TransLink issued an ultra-long (40-year) bond at 3.92 per cent, and quickly raised $100 million. This followed issues in 2010 and 2011, when TransLink raised a total of $500 million through a 10-year bond at 3.88 per cent in 2010 and a 30-year bond at 4.70 per cent in 2011.

These bond issues also reduce TransLink’s dependency on the BC Municipal Financing Authority and leave capital available for other regions in British Columbia.

Making sure the future is fun and sustainable

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:21:00 -0700

Making sure the future is fun – and sustainable

TransLink signs “Charter of Vancouver” – promoting kids and bikes

A global agreement to enhance the cycling culture and experience for children is one of the key accomplishments of Velo-city 2012, which wrapped up today in Vancouver. TransLink, co-sponsor of this year’s conference, signed the Charter of Vancouver on Children and Cycling.

The Charter of Vancouver takes its cue from the United Nations 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and recognizes the special ability cycling has in enshrining those rights. The Charter encourages local governments to adopt practices towards cycling that keep those rights in mind, building infrastructure and providing services and programs so children grow up using their bikes as normal part of their travels in the community.

“If the goal is to have more than half of all trips taken by transit, cycling or walking by 2040,” says TransLink Chair Nancy Olewiler, “we need to remember that the adults of 2040 are children today. Travel choices start at a young age, which is why the Charter of Vancouver

is so timely and important. We need to create the cycling environment where our children will be safe and secure while on their bikes to create that lifelong love for the fun, freedom, and healthy living cycling delivers".

TransLink’s TravelSmart program sponsors the school bike-safety courses provided by HUB (formerly Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition), as well as other initiatives to promote responsible cycling (please visit www.travelsmart.ca and select “Bike More”).

During the four-day event in Vancouver, about a thousand conference delegates learned of issues peculiar to cycling in Metro Vancouver – such as the region’s varied terrain -- and how they are being addressed; public bike-sharing and the way that system can be included in overall transportation planning was the topic of another TransLink presentation. TransLink also hosted a bicycle/transit integration tour, in which participants got to see how bikes are accommodated on the rest of the transportation network. In all, seven TransLink staff members made presentations to the conference.

The next Velo-city conference will be in Vienna, Austria, in 2013.

O Canada It is something to sing about

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:35:00 -0700

Oh Canada! It’s Something to Sing About!

Take transit as you celebrate This Land of Ours!

From neighbourhood gatherings to big civic events, July 1^st promises summer fun and celebrations as Canadians mark Canada Day 2012; and TransLink will provide additional services to help you get there and home again safely.

SkyTrain – Expo/Millennium Line will add additional trains throughout the day to handle the crowds expected to come to downtown Vancouver for the main events and the fireworks shows.

The last trains on the Expo/Millennium Line will leave Waterfront for King George at 1:16am and for VCC-Clark at 1:11am (one hour later than the normal closing time for Sundays and holidays). There will also be additional trains from King George to Waterfront until 12:38am, and as far as New Westminster until 1:28am for customers returning from the events in Surrey and Cloverdale.

Canada Line will run its regular hours, with the last train leaving Waterfront for YVR-Airport at 1:05am and for Richmond-Brighouse at 1:15am. It will add trains, as needed, during the day – especially before and after the fireworks shows.

CUSTOMERS INTENDING TO BOARD ANY SKYTRAIN LINE AT WATERFRONT STATION NOTE: except for SeaBus customers and those requiring elevator service, there will be no access to the station from the Cordova Street entrance after 10:30 pm. Customers planning to take the Expo/Millennium Line must go to the Howe Street Entrance (close to Canada Place); those going to the Canada Line may enter by the Granville Street Entrance (between Hastings and Pender). Avoid possible ticket machine lineups by having exact cash fare, and pre-purchasing your return fare from SkyTrain staff at selected locations and times.

SeaBus will offer two-boat service, with departures every 15 minutes from Lonsdale Quay and Waterfront Terminal, from 10am until 11:30pm, and will continue to operate half-hourly until 1:22am (July 2). SeaBus customers intending to transfer to SkyTrain after 10:30pm may have to go through Waterfront Station and line up at the Howe Street or Cordova Street entrances.

Bus service will run on the regular Sunday/holiday schedule, although there will be additional coaches available at the transit supervisors’ discretion. For customers returning to Surrey from downtown Vancouver there will be additional trips on the #319, #320 and #321 to connect with the last SkyTrain to King George, leaving Waterfront at 1:16am.

West Vancouver Transit buses will have additional coaches to help take people to and from the fireworks at Dundarave as well as to serve crowds going to the fireworks show at the City of Vancouver.

On Monday, July 2, which is a statutory holiday, all TransLink services, including SkyTrain, SeaBus and Bus, will operate on Sunday/holiday schedule. There will be no West Coast Express on this date.

Please note that – as on weekends, buses that normally use Granville Mall will again run via Seymour northbound and Howe southbound on the holiday Monday.

View Services

TransLink sponsors Global Bicycling Conference

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:20:00 -0700

Integrating with bikes, technical tour, part of Velo-city 2012

Making bicycles a more viable transportation option is the ongoing theme of Velo-city Global 2012, opening June 26 in Vancouver. A number of TransLink staff members will speak at the conference, and will provide a technical tour for delegates, showing many of Metro Vancouver’s unique features, including the integration of cycling with public transit.

“Co-hosting Velo-city expands on the commitment we made when TransLink signed the Charter of Seville at last year’s Velo-city in Spain,” says Bob Paddon, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Planning and Public Affairs, who signed the document on TransLink’s behalf. “The technical tour we’ll be hosting for delegates will take them all over – including the North Shore via SeaBus – so they can see the unique challenges – and successes – Metro Vancouver faces in developing cycling infrastructure.”

TransLink Board Chair Nancy Olewiler agrees. “We have a large and diverse region, so we have to think about the region as a whole in making cycling accessible. That’s why we’ve spent over $50 million in the past ten years on cycling infrastructure, working with the local municipalities on such projects as the North Shore Spirit Trail, the Central Valley Greenway east of downtown and the bike-pedestrian bridge over the Fraser River, adjacent to the Canada Line.” Ms Olewiler will speak at the opening and closing day events.

TransLink unveiled its Regional Cycling Strategy last summer, which calls for the cycling “mode share” – the number of trips taken by bicycle – to increase from 2 per cent now to 10 per cent by 2040. Implementing that strategy will be a focus of other discussions at Velo-city and one of TransLink’s presentations will cover ways of bringing together stakeholders with wide-ranging interests to work through the changes needed to make it happen.

As the City of Vancouver recently announced plans for a public bike-sharing service, TransLink will provide perspective on bike-sharing as an extension of transit. Another TransLink presentation will look at how to integrate cycling with transit. Also, the hundreds of conference delegates are arriving just as TransLink releases its updated print and online versions of the Metro Vancouver Cycling Map./

The Charter of Seville calls on governments to improve cycling infrastructure and expand the range of alternatives to private autos. For more information about TransLink’s Cycling programs check out http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling.aspx; to learn more about the European Cycling Federation Velo-city conference: http://www.Velo-city2012.com.

Canada Day Transit Service

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Oh Canada! It’s Something to Sing About!
Take transit as you celebrate This Land of Ours!

From neighbourhood gatherings to big civic events, July 1st promises summer fun and celebrations as Canadians mark Canada Day 2012; and TransLink will provide additional services to help you get there and home again safely.

SkyTrain – Expo/Millennium Line will add additional trains throughout the day to handle the crowds expected to come to downtown Vancouver for the main events and the fireworks shows.

The last trains on the Expo/Millennium Line will leave Waterfront for King George at 1:16am and for VCC-Clark at 12:38am (one hour later than the normal closing time for Sundays and holidays). There will also be additional trains from King George to New Westminster until 1:28am for customers returning from the events in Surrey and Cloverdale.

Canada Line will run its regular hours, with the last train leaving Waterfront for YVR-Airport at 1:05am (July 2) and for Richmond-Brighouse at 1:15am. It will add trains, as needed, during the day – especially before and after the fireworks shows.

SeaBus will offer two-boat service, with departures every 15 minutes from Lonsdale Quay and Waterfront Terminal, from 10am until 11:30pm, and will continue to operate half-hourly until 1:22am (July 2). SeaBus customers intending to transfer to SkyTrain after 10:30pm may have to go through Waterfront Station and line up at the Howe Street or Cordova Street entrances.

Bus service will run on the regular Sunday/holiday schedule, although there will be additional coaches available at the transit supervisors’ discretion. For customers returning to Surrey from downtown Vancouver there will be additional trips on the #319, #320 and #321 up till 1:16am to connect with the later SkyTrains to King George.

West Coast Express will not run on Monday, July 2 – which is a statutory holiday. All other TransLink services will operate on regular Sunday/Holiday schedule. Please note that – as on weekends, buses that normally use Granville Mall will again run via Seymour northbound and Howe southbound.

Full details on individual services can be found online at the TransLink Holiday Service page.

Golden Ears Bridge toll adjustment takes effect July 15

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:26:00 -0700

Slight increase covers annual rate of inflation

Tolls to cross the Golden Ears Bridge will change as of July 15, TransLink announced today. The tolls, which pay for the building and operation of the bridge, will rise from 5 to 20 cents, depending on the type of vehicle, to cover the increase in the Consumer Price Index of 1.9% over the past year.

The tolling structure approved before the bridge opened includes an adjustment in toll rates to pay for the costs of operating and maintaining the bridge which increase with inflation.

More and more people are discovering the cost and time savings by using the bridge and usage increased 12.5 per cent in 2011 over 2010, to 9.8 million crossings. That trend is continuing in the first quarter of this year, with over 2.42 million crossings.

Off peak discounts have been implemented in the past to determine if this would generate additional usage and revenue and it did not.

Customers have three tolling options for using the Golden Ears Bridge: with a transponder installed inside the vehicle, which automatically records each crossing; with video registration, in which license plates are registered and photographed each time the vehicle crosses the bridge; and “pay-as-you-go”, in which unregistered license plates are photographed and then traced.

The increases are as follows:

CLASS	TRANS-PONDER now	After 07/15	VIDEO now	After 07/15	PAY-AS- YOU-GO now	After 07/15
Car	$2.90	$2.95	$3.45	$3.50	$4.10	$4.20
Small truck	$5.85	$5.95	$6.40	$6.50	$6.95	$7.10
Large truck	$8.70	$8.85	$9.30	$9.50	$9.85	$10.05
Motorcycle	n/a	n/a	$1.45	$1.50	$2.65	$2.70

Complete information on vehicle definitions can be found online at http://www.translink.ca/en/driving/golden-ears-bridge.aspx