Just ahead of the busiest week of the year for commuters, TransLink is increasing SkyTrain, bus, and SeaBus service to help increase capacity and lower wait times. For the first time ever, increases are being made to all three of those modes at one time as a result of significant investments from all levels of government.
“We know that the first week of September is the busiest week of the year for commuters,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “That’s why we’ve timed these increases to do our part in reducing congestion. Whether it’s SkyTrain, bus or SeaBus, these changes will help reduce wait-times for our customers all across the region.”
TransLink introduces service changes every three months to reflect seasonal demand and to bring more service where customers need it most.
Funding for expanded transit service is made possible through contributions from Phase One of the Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada.
The following increases will take place beginning September 3:
SkyTrain
24 new SkyTrain cars in service (six trains)
Five per cent capacity increase on Expo Line during peak times
Nine per cent capacity increase on Millennium Line during peak times
SeaBus
Introducing 10-minute sailings for the first time ever during peak hours
Weekdays from 7 – 9:30 a.m. and 3 – 6:30 p.m.
50 per cent higher capacity during peak hours
Bus
There will be 12 permanent bus service increases to key routes to help alleviate overcrowding with the addition of over 40,000 total service hours.
Below are the key changes:
503 (Langley Centre/Surrey Central): upgraded to a limited-stop express service
Monday to Friday
Service every eight to nine minutes during peak times
Every 10 to 15 minutes during day-time off-peak hours
301 (Newton Exchange/Brighouse Station)
Weekdays
Every 30 minutes from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
New double-decker buses (starting October)
Almost double the capacity
USB charging outlets
Panoramic views from the upper deck
N17 (Downtown/UBC NightBus): to help improve late-night connections to UBC
Half hour service until 5:00 a.m. (toward downtown)
Half hour service until 4:30 a.m. (toward UBC)
Other popular routes receiving permanent increases
5 Robson/Downtown, 6 Davie/Downtown, 7 Nanaimo Station/Dunbar, 19 (Metrotown Station/Stanley Park), 49 Metrotown Station/Dunbar Loop/UBC, 99 Commercial-Broadway/UBC, 112 Edmonds Station/New Westminster Station, 116 Edmonds Station/Metrotown Station and 342 Newton Exchange/Langley Centre.
These increases are in addition to the annual return to regular service levels for post-secondary-institution routes.
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