Plan sets the course for transportation in Richmond, Delta and Tsawwassen
Plan sets the course for transportation in Richmond, Delta and Tsawwassen
Southwest Area Transport Plan (SWATP) finalized
Restaurant manager Nirav Surani employs many teenagers and young adults at the Tsawwassen Mills mall’s KFC, who travel from communities throughout Metro Vancouver to work there part-time.
The younger ones are enjoying their first work experience, while earning spending money. Others are post-secondary students working to help offset student loans.
While some drive to work, most rely on transit to get to-and-from the mall, or to connect to the mall’s employee shuttle service near SkyTrain’s Scott Road Station.
That’s why it’s welcome news for Nirav that transit, cycling, walking and road infrastructure are set to improve in Richmond, Delta and the Tsawwassen First Nation with TransLink’s Southwest Area Transport Plan (SWATP) finalized.
The plan serves as a blueprint for how we can best allocate our resources over the next decade to improve transit and transportation in the area, including important connections to North Delta.
Most notably for Nirav and his employees, a Tier 1 recommendation in the plan is adding the 601 Bridgeport Station/South Delta/Boundary Bay to the Frequent Transit Network (FTN). This route is one of three that directly serves the mall.
The FTN are corridors where transit service is frequent enough that customers don’t need to refer to a schedule. They operate at least every 15 minutes in both directions throughout the day and into the evening, every day of the week.
“Definitely, I’m excited that more improvements will be coming,” says Nirav. “It will not only help employees get to the mall, but also the general public. The weekends are always so busy, and I’m sure more people want to come to the mall.”
Tier 1 recommendations in the plan will be advanced first, as funding allows and alongside other regional priorities. The first improvements begin rolling out in September as part of our Fall Service Changes—stay tuned for details!
Other Tier 1 recommendations include:
- Additional frequency on the 301, 311 and 430
- Redesigning both the 401 and 410/C98 routes, each becoming two routes
- Upgrading the 403 and 601 to the Frequent Transit Network
- Expanded employment area coverage for the 104
Visit translink.ca/swatp to learn more about the Southwest Area Transport Plan!
Also, just last week, the Mayors’ Council and the TransLink Board of Directors approved the $7.3-billion investment plan for Phase Two of the 10-Year Vision. The first of the new service begins rolling out in 2019. Included in Phase Two for the southwest area:
- A new B-Line connecting Richmond to the SkyTrain’s Expo Line
- Extending the 640 from Ladner Exchange to connect with the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
- Extending the hours of service on the 606, 608, N10 and N15
- Reducing wait times on the 301, 401, 402 and 407
- Reducing overcrowding on the 351
A big thanks to the more than 3,200 people who participated in the public engagement on the Southwest Area Transport Plan in spring 2017, and for those of you who offered feedback on the draft report that was made public in winter 2017! We also worked closely with our local government partners in Richmond, Delta and the Tsawwassen First Nation to finalize this plan.
The SWATP is a living document, which means we will continue to work collaboratively with local government partners to stay on track to deliver the recommendations in the plan.
We are committed to reaching out to the public again when addressing changes that are more challenging and would require some trade-offs in benefits.
Hi,
Do you know when exactly the 601 will join the FTN network?
Thanks
Hi, I would also like to know just how soon Ladner might see these improvements. Guessing fall 2019?
Richmond to Expo B-Line, 403 FTN! Exciting developments!
How do I find out what ‘Expanded employment area coverage’ means for the 104? I went through the 26 page document things were pretty vague.
The expanded employment areas will likely extend the loop on annacis island to include the area west of the current terminus where the 104 switches from a annacis island to 22 st bus as the roads allow for the loop to be extended and the other area is having all busses travel the port royal loop. New warehouses have been built by Boyd and Duncan and The residential component of Port Royal is growing. Hopefully TransLink implements the 104 changes soon As they are facing competition as the city is trying out a ferry from Port Royal to the quay and that is busy on weekends when the 104 does not run to port royal
If you break up the 401 and 410, please bring back the 406 Railway and 408 Garden City route names/numbers! They are historic numbers, and consistent with the 407 Gilbert, which comes after the sequence 401, 402, 403, 404, 405.
Stefan: The 406 & 408 are coming back this September. The other changes will be phased in over the next couple of years. The 430 will become a B line route in 2020 or 2021.
Hey everyone, thanks for questions! I’m looking into getting answers for them. Stay tuned.
Wasn’t there a 640 Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Scott Road Station route before it became the 620 in 2004?
In reply to Baron Taylor: Yes, the 640 ran to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal up until 2004, when it was replaced by the 620 from Ladner Exchange to the terminal.
Hey everyone, answers to your questions:
When exactly will the 601 join the Frequent Transit Network and when will Ladner see their improvements? Exact timing is still being confirmed, but these specific improvements are part of the bus service investments identified in the recently approved Phase Two Investment Plan, which will be rolled out in 2020 and 2021. You can view the Phase Two Plan at this link. I’ll add that some improvements may come as part of our quarterly service changes too. Notably, we’re trying to move ahead with the extension of the C76 sooner.
What does “expanded employment area coverage” for the 104 mean? I think that Nick Johnston has it right. Eventually we’d like to extend 104 service further west on Annacis Island. What we’re moving ahead with first is making sure all 104 trips serve the growing Port Royal community.
Hope this helps!
More service for the 430 is desperately needed until there is a B-line, half an hour just straight up isn’t frequent enough. There is always, no matter what in the day and early evening, a huge line at Metrotown for it, and I have seen many times people being passed up.
Hi!
Wondering if there will ever be a train service from Twassasen ferry terminal? I live on Vancouver Island and dread everytime I come over doing the combined bus and sky train journey into town. The bus is always so busy, there is insufficient luggage storage and you are often left standing for 45 mins with your bags falling into other passengers. I especially feel sorry for tourists with large bags who are often not aware of how poorly set up the system is for travel. It would be fantastic to be able to get onto a train and straight into the sky train system. I would probably visit much more frequently!! In the meantime a bus better equipped for luggage would be helpful.
Hi Sarah, that’s an interesting idea. Right now, it’s not within the scope of the 10-Year Vision, but we’re going to be launching consultation soon for the Regional Transportation Strategy where will be looking to the public to share their ‘big ideas’ like this one about what we can do to move the region better in the coming decades. As for luggage storage, good news — we’ve added luggage racks to a few buses earlier this year to make for a better customer experience onboard.