TransLink proposes new bus routes for new year

With ridership on the rise, TransLink is proposing two new bus routes from Metrotownto the North Shore and Vancouver's River District.

"In a region experiencing unprecedented ridership growth and expecting to grow by more than a million people in the next 30 years the needs of our customers are changing rapidly. This is a great opportunity for us to better serve our customers," TransLink CEOKevin Desmond said in a statement.

TransLink reported record ridership in 2018 with52 of its routes experiencing consistent overcrowding, up by 37 per cent.

The need for extra connectivity to North Vancouver and the River District was identified in TransLink's Transit Network Review in April.

If approved, the new services could start running as early as next year.

One of the proposed routes would run fromPhibbs Exchange on the North Shore to Metrotown. This would bea limited-stop express service along Willingdon Avenue, connecting North Vancouver to theSkyTrain and hubslike Brentwood Station and BCIT.

The second new service would connectMetrotown's Expo Line Station and the East Fraser Lands (River District).

TransLink is asking for feedback on the proposed new routes until November 11.

The feedback survey can be found attranslink.ca/networkreview.

There will also be an information session heldWednesday, Nov.6from4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the River District Neighbourhood Centre located at 8683 Kerr Street.