Bus Priority Projects

In summer 2024:

• The relocation of certain bus stops on June 24, 2024, to maintain convenient access while reducing travel time.

• Right-turn pockets, giving drivers a place to wait for a right turn without blocking buses and other traffic.

• Extending bus lanes north of 16th Ave by one block during peak periods. The southbound bus lane will begin at 15th Avenue during the afternoon peak and the northbound bus lane will end at 15th Avenue during the morning peak.

By late 2025:

• Bus bulbs, extending sidewalks so that bus stops align with travel lanes, saving buses time from merging in and out of traffic.

These initiatives are geared at reducing overall traffic congestion in the area by improving the speed and reliability of buses and, in turn, making transit a convenient and sustainable transport choice.

The implementation phase for these updates is set to begin in June 2024, with further enhancements planned for the summer of 2025.

Resources

• Map of detailed bus stop changes for South Granville

The City of Vancouver and TransLink are making improvements to bus services along 49th avenue, between Oak and Cambie Street. The changes include adding special lanes near bus stops on Oak Street for both East bound and Westbound busses, with the addition of bus stop consolidation along this segment. The goal of this project is to reduce delay for transit on 49th avenue, one of the most delayed bus routes in Metro Vancouver, and to improve schedule reliability during peak hours.

The City of Richmond and TransLink are working together to deliver a bus-only left turn at Great Canadian Way and Bridgeport Road. This new feature is designed to improve transit operations and efficiency of bus travel between Bridgeport Station and Highway 99. The project aims to reduce delays for nine bus routes that connect through Bridgeport Station, a key interchange point for train and bus passengers. Additionally, this left turn lane will allow for busses to bypass traffic during peak hours by working in conjunction with a newly built southbound ramp on Highway 99.

The City of North Vancouver and TransLink are installing a transit signal priority (TSP) on EB Marine Drive at Fell Avenue. The system includes setting up sensors to detect busses as they approach the intersection, planning signal timing and the installation of new signals at the intersection. The goal of the project is to minimize waiting times at the intersection for five key routes: R2, 240, 255, 241, and the 236. By reducing delays, this project aims to make bus travel more reliable and convenient for North Shore Residents.

TransLink, in partnership with the City of North Vancouver, has completed significant improvements to the R2 Marine Drive RapidBus service, including an extension of the eastbound transit lane from Queensbury Avenue to Gladstone Avenue. These enhancements will save eastbound travelers up to six minutes during peak hours, benefiting approximately 40,000 monthly riders. The $2.3 million investment, the largest since RapidBus's inception in 2020, not only speeds up transit times but also includes over 200 meters of separated bike lanes, contributing to a more connected and sustainable city. This project is a key step in TransLink's broader strategy to build towards improvements in the RapidBus network.

TransLink, and the Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure (MOTI), have successfully completed a $5.2 million bus transit improvement project along the Hwy 99/Bridgeport corridor. This project adds 8.4 kilometers of bus-on-shoulder lanes, widens Hwy 17A by 350 meters, and introduces a 154-meter Bridgeport Bus-Only Ramp. These enhancements will significantly reduce travel times for eight bus routes (311, 351, 352, 354, 601, 602, 605, and the 620) during peak hours and include a multi-use pathway near Hwy 99 and Patterson Road for cyclists and pedestrians. These upgrades benefit 16,000 daily transit users, and are part of a broader initiative to improve bus travel times to enhance the overall transit experience in the region.

In addition to these improvements, TransLink is also funding a bus-only southbound left turn at Great Canadian Way and Bridgeport Road, slated for completion in 2024. This extension is expected to benefit an additional 6,000 transit riders, further enhancing the efficiency of the transit system. By focusing on bus priority improvements along high-frequency corridors, TransLink continues its commitment to developing transit-oriented, livable communities, and improving the travel experience for a growing number of commuters in the region.

The City of Burnaby and Translink have collaborated to install a northbound bus lane on Willingdon Avenue, a major intersection that connects Burnaby to key destinations. This bus lane allows buses to bypass the NB queue to reach to Brentwood Station Bay 1, a stop that connects routes 130, 136, 222 to other bus routes and the Millennium Line. In this segment, WB right turning traffic from Lougheed Highway no longer blocks bus access, decreasing delay for bus passengers waiting for and commuting on the three bus routes.

On April 17th, 2023, Translink announced the launch of the 80 Marine Drive Express, a new express bus route connecting the River District to Marine Drive Station in Vancouver. Operating on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the route stops at key intersections on Marine Drive at Kerr St, Elliott St, Victoria Dr, Knight St, Fraser St, and Main St. This service not only provides a direct link to the SkyTrain’s Canada Line for River District residents, but also complements the existing 100 (22nd Street Station / Marpole Loop) and 31 (River District / Metrotown Station) routes.

The introduction of the 80 Marine Drive Express is made possible with travel time savings from the Bus Stop Balancing program. This program, which involves the consolidation of stops significantly improving travel times and reliability across several Vancouver routes. The program has trimmed about 6 minutes per round trip on routes like the 4 (Powell / Downtown / UBC) and the 7 (Nanaimo Station / Dunbar), allowing for service optimization with fewer buses. These savings have been reinvested into launching the new 80 route, demonstrating the importance of bus stop balancing not just for operational efficiency, but also for expanding service in growing communities like the River District.

Looking ahead, Marine Drive is identified in Transport 2050 as a future RapidBus and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, and the 80 route is a key step in building ridership in preparation for these long-term transit improvements.