Could Translink expand to Whistler and Hope and succeed?

Currently, in the Metro Vancouver area, there is Translink that operates from Lions Bay to Aldergrove. From Aldergrove to Hope. That includes Mission, Abbotsford, Hatzic, Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and of course Hope that is operated by BC Transit. Squamish and Whistler are also operated by BC Transit.

Could Translink take over operations of each of the systems and do it successfully?

Let’s examine the information. Currently there is a bus that operates from Chilliwack, to Abbotsford, and then into Langley and the Lougheed Skytrain station. That bus operates 7 days a week but not late enough. However it does connect the two systems. Locally in Abbotsford and Chilliwack buses stop at the same stops as the 66 Fraser Valley Express. That allows passengers easy transfers. Operating into Mission there is the West Coast Express train and limited 701 trips. The limitations of both, is a person taking the 701 or the 66, has to pay a local fare. That means the passenger traveling has to pay a second fare.

Now let’s look at Squamish and Whistler. Currently they are two separate systems, with 2 different operators (contractors) and nothing that connects the two together. Also there isn’t anything connecting to Vancouver. This is where taking over service in those areas becomes tricky. It becomes tricky because there are 2 private operators, and no service connecting highway 99 from Metro Vancouver. That means that there would need to be buses that are allocated to new routes connecting highway 99.

If Translink takes over any of these systems, busses would need to be transferred over from BC Transit. Funding needs to changed also. Currently the Translink system is funded by the local cities, and municipalities not the province. If Translink takes over the systems then the province would need to contribute funding to the service. In order to do that, I suspect there will need to be new ways to raise funds for public transit. I have long advocated for new ways to fund transit, whether through naming rights for transit exchanges and stations. Possibly additional tax built into the gas prices, or an additional tax at hotels.

As for the gas price increase, I would cap that at 1 cent extra. Sure it’s not a lot, but gas prices are already high. Adding a big tax for transit funding will make it harder for some people to afford gas. As for the hotel tax, a 1-2% additional charge on hotel stays for people travelling within Canada. 3-5% for international tourists. All that extra revenue could be put towards funding public transit. Not just in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, Squamish and Whistler, but also Kamloops, Kelowna, Victoria, Nanaimo and more.

Now that we know where funding could come from, let’s look at the other possible roadblocks. Buses. Currently Translink is short buses even if they don’t publicly admit it. They moved buses around to handle the higher than anticipated ridership on routes by taking from less busy routes. To take over Mission, Abbotsford and the rest of the Valley, there are buses already there. Those buses could be taken by Translink, and some of them could be moved out of the Valley. Those could be replaced with some of the shuttle buses. They are smaller buses and could operate on small routes, with low ridership. They could also cancel parts of the local routes, by merging certain routes together.

One of the big limitations Abbotsford has had is that all buses pretty much operate to Bourquin Exchange. Bourquin is a small bus loop that cannot handle the amount of buses that operate there. Over the last several years they have tried to make many routes that pass through Bourquin. There are ways to make the system better.

If Translink takes over and brings some smaller buses to the city, some routes could be cut and modified. The 21 could operate from Aldergrove to High Street and into downtown Abbotsford, to McCallum Park and Ride then to UFV. By doing that High Street could be a small hub for a couple small routes. Routes that connect to the industrial area south of Highway 1 and the residential areas north of High Street. Another bus could operate to Abbotsford airport and then to Downtown from High Street.

Another big change could be that the 555 route that operates from Lougheed Station to Carvolth Exchange in Langley could merge with the 66 to Chilliwack. That merger could allow 60 footer buses as well as double decker buses on the 66 side of the service. I see it as a bus could leave Lougheed every 10 minutes. One bus per hour could operate all the way to Chilliwack, 3 trips per hour only as far as Carvolth and the other 2 trips operating only as far as Abbotsford. Yes it would require more buses but the ridership would be very high throughout the whole route. That means there will be higher ridership on local routes in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. The Abbotsford-Mission connector bus could also operate to McCallum park and ride to connect to the new 555/66 service.

Lets talk about the possible changes for Mission and East Maple Ridge

Between Mission and Maple Ridge there would need to be more buses operating. Maybe the 701 trips that currently operate to Mission get cancelled. They can be replaced with a new route that operates just between Haney Place and Mission. That new service could operate hourly and connect to the R3 bus that operates to Coquitlam. It would make it a two seat ride but the trip would only take around an hour and change to get to the Skytrain from Mission. Mission local routes could be changed to cover more ground. It would most likely eliminate a lot of the loop routing that they offer currently to cover more areas.

For instance one change could be a route that currently operates from Haney Place to Ruskin neighbourhood (Translink route 749) could extend to the Silverdale neighbourhood in Mission and over to the hospital. It would add about 20 minutes each way but cover portions of a route in Mission where transfers could be made. It could also shorten that Mission route by covering an area already served by the local Mission bus.

As you can see in the map, the local Mission service is 3 main routes. The 32, 33, and 34. There is also the 39 that is a shoppers shuttle and the 35 to Hatzic. Sections of the 32, 33, and 34 could merge together, possible creating longer routes that operate in a circle. One route going clockwise and one counterclockwise with one or two smaller routes that connect to the circle based routes. The 749 from Ruskin and Silverdale could come out at Wren go south to Scott, to the hospital then down Hurd to Lougheed highway heading west towards Wren and back up to go towards Silverdale. That could mean the 32 would just operate straight down Hurd St.

The 35 and 39 could both be changed as well. The 35 could operate past Hatzic and travel to Agassiz and then travel to Hope. Currently there is a route that operates Agassiz to Hope but not between Mission and Agassiz. The 39 could operate as a two way service connecting downtown Mission to the Junction shopping centre and then to Superstore, and Walmart and then to the hospital and back. It just means there will be some sections of service that are lost but could be replaced by new or changed routes north of downtown.

Lets look at Abbotsford and Chilliwack service

As you can see, Abbotsford has a lot of routes, but a lot of routes overlap each other. Although some routes are peak period service only, they still overlap in parts of the city with other buses. Routes like the 1 and 2 as well as the 22 could be heavily modified. Those three routes west of Clearbrook road could be merged into one route operating only from Highstreet. The section of Maclure that both the 1 and 2 operate over could be replaced by the modified 21. The Blueridge and Blue Jay areas of route 1 and 2 could be one route that operates in a circle. It could operate through the neighbourhoods and then travel down to Clearbrook road before looping back to High Street. Passengers could transfer to a 3 and 5 bus. It could also connect with the 21 along South Fraser Way and Clearbrook road.

The 17 and the current south routing of the 21 could merge into a route that connecting at High Street. It would operate down Mt Lehman towards the airport and then back up to Peardonville. It can do the loop of the 17 through before traveling to South Fraser Way and Clearbrook allowing for transfers.

Those changes would eliminate all the additional buses that are traveling along South Fraser. Currently there are lots of buses traveling but not a lot of riders on certain buses. Shortening up some of the routes allows some portions of routes to operate more often the current frequencies allow.

Currently the 21 doesn’t run as a frequent service. That route could be restructured so that it can run more often. My thought is by cutting the south part of the 21 and creating a route with a shorter 17. Merging the north part of the 1 and 2 with the eastern portion of the 22 would free up buses. The 21 could be merged with the remaining portion of the route 1 to travel to UFV. Which would allow the route to run more often. The replacement route could use one bus. Then a restructured 17 and 21 would also free up a bus.

Also there could be a merger of other routes throughout the city.

As I mentioned earlier the 31 could expand from Mission to UFV via McCallum park and ride. The 4, 9, 15 and 26 could all merge. It would form a new route that combines the busier section of the routes to downtown. At that point there could be transfers to other parts of the city.

As for Chilliwack the routes there are a little easier to manage, as the routes almost make sense.

The main changes I would make would be one route that operates downtown to the mall area. As well as the 66 that already operates between the mall area and downtown. Also the 51, 54, 55 and 58 could shorten in spots. It would connect with a new route that operates from the malls to Vedder Crossing. At Vedder Crossing there can be more shorter routes built up operating. The other thought could be the Vedder Crossing to the malls route could operate to downtown. That would be the only route operating North South and it would connect with other routes operating through different neighbourhoods.

So now we can see how it can work if Translink takes over going east.

How about Whistler and Squamish? Thats where it is trickier.

Squamish bus service for the most part is decent, just the schedules would need to be better. Again that would be where the 3 and 5 could operate from downtown. Then the 1, 2, 4, and 9 could operate from Walmart to the north end, shortening and simplifying the service. All that would need to be done is a route connecting downtown to Walmart area. Possibly the route 3 could do its loop to downtown then up to Walmart.

Whistler is a bit tricky for service. In Whistler a lot of service is created for the winter season. The only change I would make is the service that operates towards function junction. The 10, 20, 21, and 25 could mostly merge through the south part of Whistler. While there could be a new route that operates from Whistler to Squamish and Vancouver. That is where there will be issues with buses as there will need to be 6-8 buses for that service. That route would need to operate through Horseshoe Bay to connect people from Squamish and Whistler to the ferries. Could this route be an extension of the 257 and maybe a replacement of part of the 262? The 253 could operate Park Royal to Caulfield to Horseshoe Bay. The remaining portion of the 262 could be merged in with the route from Vancouver.

Once the skytrain extensions are operating to Arbutus and to Langley, it will be a lot easier to expand service. There will be bus routes that will change, and buses freed up. Once that happens it should work for extensions to Whistler and to Hope. The main reason I feel this needs to happen, is because the population growth outside of Metro Vancouver, is going to cause road congestion. Highway 99 gets extremely busy at all times of the year. Same with highway 1 between hope and Vancouver. Running more bus service and expanded service would be great for everyone. It would also make commuting easier around the metro Vancouver area.

What do you think about what I have to say? Leave a comment and let me know or if you have other suggestions that I didn’t cover.