Give us more night buses, MLA Jane Thornthwaite asks TransLink

North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite wants Translink to expand night bus service in North Shore.

In a letter to Translink Chief Executive Officer Kevin Desmond, Thornthwaite conveys “feedback directly from individuals who frequently use transit”. And one the issues that is consistently brought up is the lack of late-night buses servicing the North Shore.

“Currently, there is one night bus that services the North Shore,” writes Thornthwaite. “The route stretches over the Lions Gate Bridge and travels toward Lonsdale Quay, before heading north to Lynn Valley. I believe this route should be expanded upon to service a greater portion of the North Shore as I understand it is extremely popular and well ridden.

“l understand Translink had plans identified in the 10-Year Vision to increase service hours, with some already implemented under Phase 1, and more to come in Phase 2. However there are still many needed routes that are not addressed in the current plan.”

She also wants TransLink study and pilot routes on the North Shore that touch Phibbs Exchange, the east of Seymour and Deep Cove, Edgemont Village and Park Royal.

She says UBC students in North Vancouver have reached out to her for an express bus from Phibbs to UBC. “For someone travelling from Phibbs to UBC, it would take a minimum of two, and sometimes three, buses. i would like to encourage Translink to consider piloting an express bus from Phibbs to UBC for the upcoming school year,” she writes.

“With the current government’s promise to bring in ride-hailing by 2017 clearly broken, and the proposed rules and regulations being introduced onerous to ride-hailing companies, it is becoming more important to find more ways to get people home safe and efficiently. North Shore residents are feeling left behind; without alternatives coming anytime soon, we need to look at ways transit can better serve our whole community,” she writes.