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Bus Rapid Transit

Bus priority measure near Metrotown Station

Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, is a high-frequency rapid transit service with dedicated bus lanes and rail-like stations.

Frequent Service

An icon of a clock with it's hands moving depicting fast timing

A high-frequency service that will run with high-capacity fleet.

Fast and Reliable

An Icon of a Bus Only Traffic lane

Dedicated lanes and transit signal priority will provide fast and reliable service.

Stations

An icon of a bus traffic lane with next to a rail like station

Designed to support fast and convenient boarding, and include weather protection, next-bus digital screens, and a range of security and accessibility features.

Regions around the world have successfully implemented BRT to transform how transit riders get around. BRT is also economical to deploy because it can be implemented at street level while optimizing existing infrastructure. Another key advantage of BRT is that it can often be planned, constructed, and deployed in significantly less time than rail alternatives.

BRT in the Access for Everyone Plan

With up to nine BRT and RapidBus priority corridors identified in the Access for Everyone plan, more customers will experience the benefits of rapid transit across the region. These nine corridors include:

  • King George Boulevard

  • Langley – Haney Place

  • Metrotown – North Shore

  • Hastings Street

  • Lougheed Highway

  • Lynn Valley – Downtown/Lonsdale

  • Marine Dr Station – 22nd Street Station

  • Richmond Centre – Metrotown

  • Scott Road

Advancing the First Three Priority Corridors

Regional Map for the three new Bus Rapid Transit Corridors

The Mayors’ Council identified King George Boulevard, Langley – Haney Place, and Metrotown – North Shore as the first three corridors to advance to further planning, engagement, and implementation. The three corridors were selected based on their potential to maximize outcomes for the region (including their potential to increase ridership and improve access), future housing and development growth projections, the feasibility of implementing new transit priority infrastructure, and early support from local governments to implement infrastructure changes in their communities.

The specific alignment, roadway designs, associated costs, and timelines have not yet been determined for each of the three corridors. TransLink and local government partners will immediately begin work to develop concept designs and engage with the public on these three corridors. As these projects are currently unfunded, a business case will be developed for each corridor to be included in a future update to the Investment Plan.

King George Boulevard

Corridor length: 23 km

The King George Boulevard BRT corridor will improve transit access across the region, building on the success of the existing R1 King George Boulevard RapidBus, one of the fastest growing routes on the system.

This BRT corridor will improve Surrey’s access to SkyTrain, including the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension. It will connect key town centres and other growth areas south of the Fraser River, including: Guildford Town Centre, Surrey Centre, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Bear Creek Park, Newton Centre, South Surrey Park & Ride, and Semiahmoo Centre.

Langley – Haney Place

Corridor length: 22 km

The Langley – Haney Place BRT corridor will connect Langley Centre and Haney Place Exchange in Maple Ridge via 200th Street, the Golden Ears Bridge, and Lougheed Highway.

This BRT corridor is experiencing one of the fastest rates of population and job growth among all BRT corridors. It will provide a connection to the future Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension, and other key parts of the transit network, including: the R3 Lougheed Highway RapidBus, Carvolth Exchange and Park & Ride, improving access to Willowbrook and Langley Events Centre.

Metrotown – North Shore

Corridor length: 21 km

The Metrotown – North Shore rapid transit corridor will connect major destinations such as Park Royal, Capilano Mall, Lower Lonsdale, Lower Lynn, Burnaby Heights, Brentwood, BCIT, and Metrotown. It will also improve connections to SkyTrain at Brentwood Town Centre on the Millennium Line and Metrotown Station on the Expo Line.

Recognizing the high transportation demand on this corridor, work has begun to extend the R2 Marine Drive RapidBus from Phibbs Exchange to Metrotown, providing a direct express connection between Burnaby and the North Shore. This will replace the limited, peak service 222 between Phibbs Exchange and Metrotown and provide all day service, higher capacity articulated buses, and enhanced stop amenities.

At the same time, an ultimate rapid transit connection will be determined through the Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit Program, which will plan for BRT and consider other rail alternatives. The study will evaluate technology, different route alignments, stop and station locations, and degree of roadway separation including options for a dedicated transit crossing of Burrard Inlet.


Resources

Reports

Contact Us

Please email the project team at brt@translink.ca if you have any question or comments about the Bus Rapid Transit program.