Planned Special Events with Transit Impacts
About Special Events
A Planned Special Event with Transit Impacts is an event which attracts an increased number of people and vehicles to a specific area, affecting TransLink's ability to provide bus service.
From a transit perspective, Planned Special Events are split into three basic categories:
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Location-based temporary events (e.g. fairs and festivals): May take place over multiple days, with little or no advance ticket sales, an unclear venue capacity, and a venue that is sometimes temporary.
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Street-level temporary events (e.g. marathons, marades, Car Free Days): Take place on a roadway or multiple roadways requiring temporary closure, the number of attendees is unknown, and dedicated parking facilities are not available.
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Combined location and street-level temporary events (e.g. Celebration of Light): May take place over multiple days at a specific location and also on a roadway or multiple roadways that requiring temporary closure.
Note: Existing predictable events at a permanent venue, like concerts at BC Place or hockey games at Rogers Arena, are not included here. These events have existing agreements in place between TransLink and their organizers.
If you are planning an event, it's essential that TransLink is notified in advance. Every event comes with its own level of complexity, and adequate preparation is important. Providing us with as much advance notice as possible will help us ensure that all transportation needs are met.
Our goal is to ensure that travel to and from your event is a success while minimizing any impact of regular transit riders. Many events in the region are well established, and we look forward to building on our strong relationships with all parties involved to ensure every event runs smoothly.
If you are certain that your event will not impact transit and you would like to partner with us, please visit our Community Sponsorships and Partnerships page. If you know your event will impact transit, or if you are unsure, please continue reading and complete the Special Event Notification form below.
Fees
Given that each event is different, we will contact you once you've submitted a Special Event Notification form to discuss details, which may include fees. Many factors are involved in determining what fees, if any, you will be charged to accommodate the transit impacts caused by your event.
Extra fees may be charged to cover the costs of:
The closure of bus stops.
Rerouting buses due to road or street closures.
Switching from electric trolley buses to diesel buses.
Providing extra bus service on existing transit routes to accommodate crowds.
Adding sus service on custom routes.
As part of the process of organizing a special event, you may need to enter into an agreement with TransLink regarding the adjusted services we may need to provide to accommodate the event’s impacts. This agreement may also include the acceptance of certain fees.
How to Reduce Potential Fees
The size of your event and the severity of transit impacts could incur significant costs, as noted in the Fees section above. Here are some suggestions on ways for you to reduce costs:
Host your event in a non-transit area.
If that's not feasible, try to reduce transit impacts as much as possible.
If feasible, enter into a partnership with TransLink for marketing or sponsorship opportunities.
Service
If you anticipate that your event will require extra bus service, use the below information to determine how many buses you may need:
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Community Shuttle Bus: 20 seats, maximum passenger load of 20 (no standing)
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Conventional 40-foot Bus: 36 seats, maximum passenger load of 77
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Articulated 60-foot Bus: 48 seats, maximum passenger load of 120
Please note that capacity may vary based on bus model.
If you anticipate needing extra SeaBus, SkyTrain, or West Coast Express service, our team can discuss capacity and related costs with you following your Special Event Notification submission.
Accessibility Requirements
TransLink is committed to providing accessible transportation services. If you have specific accessibility requirements for your event, such as wheelchair accessibility or other accommodations, please include them in your Special Event Notification form submission. We will make every effort to accommodate your needs, subject to vehicle availability and applicable accessibility regulations.
Our Operational Duty
Our primary responsibility is to maintain regular bus service, which nearly one million customers rely on each day. If your event causes unforeseen disruptions to regular service – such as larger-than-expected crowds or unplanned street closures - we will make every effort to minimize the impacts. However, any additional costs incurred as a result will need to be charged back to the event organizers.
Special Event Notification Form
Please complete the below form to notify us of your upcoming event, providing us with as much advance notice as possible. Once we receive your submission, we will reach out to request any further information and discuss the details of your event.
We look forward to working with you to ensure your event is a success!
