Burnaby to debate Hastings Street dedicated bus lane at city council

A transit advocacy group is pushing Burnaby city council to fix the frequent gridlock along one of the region’s major arterials, Hastings Street, and approve a bus-only lane.

Dedicated bus lanes along Hastings Street will be up for debate at council Monday night, and a presentation from TransLink and a report from city staff are recommending the city allow curbside lanes for buses only between Willingdon and Duthie avenues.

The bus-only lanes would be in service between from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

TransLink suggests the change will mean general car traffic will face minimal increases in travel times at certain times of day, and no change or even decreased travel times at other times of day.

Transit advocacy group ‘Movement’ says the lanes are a chance for council to fix one of the region’s most congested corridors.

It says the current rush-hour HOV lanes along Hastings are “ineffective” and “unreliable,” and gridlock is bringing the region to a halt. It believes bus lanes are one of the cheapest ways to fix it.

“This is similar to bus lanes that currently exist across Metro Vancouver, and in most major cities on this continent,” Movement said. “The Burnabarians on the bus deserve relief.”

“We’ve heard from riders with horror stories on how unreliable the R5 can be, despite the fact that we call it a ‘RapidBus.’ Finally having all-day bus lanes, including on congested weekend afternoons, will do two things: It will provide relief for all the Burnabarians that choose to commute by transit, and it will send a signal that Burnaby Council cares about affordability in our city,” Movement organizer Michelle Scarr shared in a release Monday.

“The R5 and other Hastings routes will finally be reliable enough that people will be able to spend less money on their car, and more in their community.”