TransLink looks to double bus service, expand rapid transit over next decade

Expanding local bus service is a key aspect of TransLink’s vision for the next 10 years.

Chief executive Kevin Quinn wants to see it doubled over that period.

“With a growing population, congestion is increasingly affecting our way of life,” he said Wednesday.

“We heard loud and clear that we need to provide more high-quality rapid transit options, that we need to do it as quickly as possible.”

Goals detailed by Quinn, also include building rapid transit to the North Shore and a gondola to Simon Fraser University. TransLink proposes up to 170 km of new rapid transit over the next decade on as many as 11 corridors, including nine Bus Rapid Transit routes using zero-emission buses on dedicated lanes.

“Bus rapid transit, on average, a new line takes roughly two to four years to fully implement a new line. We know the SkyTrain can take upwards of 10 years between planning, engineering, design, construction,” he said.

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TransLink also wants to extend the Millennium Line SkyTrain to connect Arbutus to UBC in the next decade.

The transit authority acknowledges there isn’t a defined dollar figure for its long-term vision yet. More details about costs will be shared at various stages of the plan, provided the projects get support from senior levels of government.

This 10-year plan is part of the greater “Transport 2050” strategy. TransLink says the strategy is based ono an “urgent and widespread need to address climate change, housing affordability, and traffic congestion by increasing and improving transit service as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.”