TransLink seeks public input on 85 proposed bus route changes

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

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

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

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

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

New Hastings B-Line

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

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

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

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

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

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

Specific proposed route changes include:

Burnaby and New Westminster

• 49th AveChamplain Heights (26/49)
• MetrotownEdmondsNew Westminster (106)
• Metrotown Station (49/116/129/130/144/430)
• Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby Mountain (135/143/144/145/N35)
• Hastings B-Line (135)
• New Westminster Community Shuttles (C3/C4/C8/C9)
• Walnut GroveLougheed (501/509/555)

North Shore

• British PropertiesChartwell (254 / 256)
• Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal Express (257)
• Upper LonsdaleLynn Valley (242 / N24)
• West VancouverDowntownUBC (44 / 250/ 258)

Northeast Sector, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

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

South of Fraser

• 208th StWilloughby (501 / 595)
• BrookswoodLangley Centre (502 / 531 / 590 / C63)
• CloverdalePanorama Village (320 / 341)
• King George Boulevard (394)
• Walnut GroveLougheed (501 / 509)
• White RockSouth Surrey (351 / 352 / 354 / C50 / C51 / C52 / C53)

Richmond and Delta

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

Vancouver and UBC

• 41st AveUBC (41 / 43 / 480)
• 49th AveChamplain Heights (26 / 49)
• Hastings B-Line (135)
• Marine Drive NightBus (N8 / N20)
• NightBus (N6 / N16 / N22)
• Northeast Vancouver trolleys (4 / 7 / 16)
• UBCSpanish Banks (C18 / C19 / C20)
• West EndDowntown (5 / 6 / C21 / C23)
• West VancouverDowntownUBC (44 / 250 / 25)