Look out: bus service changes start Monday, May 3
Look out: bus service changes start Monday, May 3
Keep an eye out: we’re making seasonal bus service changes on Monday, May 3.
Make sure to check the full list of bus changes for May 3 to see if you are affected!
Creative use of resources provides a few improvements
We do these bus changes every spring to reflect lower demand—and this time around, even though our budget won’t allow expansion, creative use of resources is providing a few improvements.
For example, with Canada Line in service, Vancouver-bound customers are now leaving home later for work. Service is being reorganized to reflect the higher demand later in the morning, with more trips for the following routes between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.:
- 351 Crescent Beach/Bridgeport Station
- 352 Ocean Park/Bridgeport Station
- 354 White Rock Centre/Bridgeport Station
- 602 Tsawwassen Heights/Bridgeport
- 603 Beach Grove/Bridgeport
- 604 English Bluff/Bridgeport
- 601 Bridgeport Station/South Delta/Boundary Bay (the 601 will see more trips between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.)
As well, some buses that run “not in service” on Granville to reach their 5 Robson/6 Davie routes will now run as 10 Downtown on those first trips. Yay!
More key changes to know about
There are also a few more key changes that you should know about.
- the 15 Cambie/Downtown will run less frequently, as many going downtown are using the Canada Line. Look for it every 12 minutes instead of every 10 minutes during morning and afternoon rush, and every 15 minutes instead of 12 minutes at midday.
- the 239 Capilano University/Park Royal will see extra University service trips removed between Phibbs Exchange and Capilano University, running every 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush hours, and every 30 minutes instead of 15 in midday. (The frequency will be restored in September.)
However, the frequency between Park Royal and Phibbs Exchange will not be changing, Monday to Friday. There are no changes to the weekend timetable either.
- the two bus bays near New Westminster Station for the 112 Edmonds Station/Lougheed Station will move one block north to Carnarvon Street, due to construction of the Plaza 88 project. See this map for full details. UPDATE: The 112 service will reroute effective Wednesday May 5, due to road paving!
These are only a few highlights: make sure to see all the May 3 changes!
Again, we make these seasonal adjustments to bus service just four times a year, reflecting major passenger ebbs and flows in April, June, September, and December. Look out for the next set of changes in June!
Good to bring back the in-service trolleys coming out of VTC before regularly scheduled service (ie. 10 Downtown before 5 Robson/6 Davie). How about in the other direction, when buses return to VTC?
And will CMBC be monitoring this to see if it can be expanded? I’m thinking of all the deadheading buses using 41st going to and coming from the garage.
Eric, I sent your inquiry along and here’s the response from CMBC planning.
Maybe it doesn’t happen until the June sheet change, but what about the seasonal weekend extention of the C89 route into Centennial Beach?
I didn’t see any mention of it…
Hi Sean, here’s what CMBC has told me:
What about using the entrance at Centennial Parkway by using 3 Av -> 67 St -> 1A Av -> Centennial Pky to Centennial Beach, and return via Centennial Pky -> 3 Av. This seems to have much shorter distance…
It’s too bad that they couldn’t combine parts of the C89 with parts of the #609, and have one route run from Boundary Bay, through the business district of 12 Av & 56 St, and then on to the Tsawwassen First Nation… Passengers that wanted to go down to the Rec Centre could transfer at 12th & 56Th to eitehr the big bus/#601 or the other shuttle route C84…
[…] This issue focuses on the seasonal bus service changes coming on Monday, May 3. […]
I don’t see how Cambie needs even 20 minute service during off peak hours.
The 3, 10, 17 and 100 combined all provide excellent service in the Marine Drive area up to about 59th avenue or so, a reasonable distance I would walk to catch a bus.
The 49 provides service in the area from 57th avenue to 45th avenue. Again, that range is the distance I would walk.
The 41 provides service from 45th avenue up to about 33rd avenue.
From 33rd avenue to about 29th avenue, Cambie is pushed about two blocks closer to Oak making the 17 a viable alternative in this area as well.
From 29th avenue up to 16th avenue there is service duplication with the 33 and it serves SkyTrain at King Edward Line. As well, the 25 also runs through here.
And from 16th avenue north to the Cambie bridge you have the 9, 17, 50, 84, and 99 and two closely placed SkyTrain stations at Broadway and 6th Avenue.
With the plethora of service described above, why is the 15 even running at even the decreased levels mentioned in the blog post? Wouldn’t it be better to take that service and put it on routes that really need it like the 49 which is apparently bursting at the seams?
Cliff, originally when the Canada Line was 1st mentioned, there was talk of making the #15 a community shuttle route!
Now, the plan is to only run that bus as far as Broadway/or Olympic Village, and then have the #17 be the route that crosses over the bridge once the trolley wires are re-installed.
Cliff, Sean: yes indeed, CMBC planning is looking at changing 15 service to something similar to Sean’s suggestion. But those reductions are not planned for this particular sheet change—it’s a bit off in the future.
Olympic Village would work out well because there’s enough room for a shuttle to left turn on to 6th, pull into the right lane, stop, pull out, change lanes left, and go back onto Cambie.
The service could even have flexible drop offs where the driver could go a couple blocks off route to make a drop off once it enters the residential area of Cambie around 20th avenue.
Just a heads up: The posted schedules on the individual bus stops at Bridgeport Station were recently “updated” due to the May 3rd changes, AND The info posted for the #480’s & #620’s is NOT completely correct! I’ve notified my supervisor as well as the road supervisor…
In the meantime, for correct info, pick up a timetable, call 953-3333, or text the individual bus stop ID number to 33333…