Bus service improvements coming to West Vancouver on April 5
March 24, 2014
Bus service improvements coming to West Vancouver on April 5
March 24, 2014
Hey Buzzer readers – do you remember when we told you about the North Shore Area Transit Plan in a post back in 2012?
To refresh your memory, public consultation began in the fall of 2010 and concluded in the summer of 2012. The upcoming changes respond to what we heard from more than 2,500 North Shore residents and stakeholders during the North Shore Area Transit Plan public consultation process.
Drum roll please….on Saturday, April 5, TransLink and West Vancouver Transit will implement the following improvements:
250A Dundarave/Vancouver
- Significant increase in weekday AM and PM peak period service increases to every 7.5 minutes, from Dundarave to Vancouver.
- Weekday off-peak period and weekends/holiday buses increases to every 10 minutes.
251 Queens and 252 Inglewood
- The current one-direction service along both routes will be replaced by a two-direction service with 51 new stops long Queens and Inglewood.
- Service will operate every 30 mins during peak periods and every 60 mins in off-peak periods.
- Customers who travel to downtown will transfer at Dundarave or Park Royal.
For more details on the consultation process visit the North Shore Area Transit Plan.
Author: Angela Salehi
Any word on when the other service optimizations across the region are going to start?
Hi Sheba, TransLink makes regular service adjustments four times a year in April, June, September and December. Is there a particular service you are interested in? Let me know and I can check on potential timing for you.
How about this, for starters. I’ve heard rumblings that some previous changes haven’t happened yet so I wonder how long (after these are decided yes/no) it will take for anything to happen.
http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Managing-the-Transit-Network/Service-Optimization/Proposed-Changes.aspx
Hi Sheba, We are still analyzing feedback received during consultation and are developing recommendations for TransLink management. A full report with the common comments we received and number of attendees for each open house will be posted on our website later this spring. Changes related to these service optimization proposals may be implemented as early as the fall/winter 2014 or into spring 2015. Hope this helps!
West Vancouvers “Spring” Service adjustments are due April 5, whereas the rest of the systems “Spring” adjustments are coming April 14…
Stay tuned for the latest info…
I do not support the proposed changes to the #258. First, since the existing frequency of the route will be maintained, what’s the point of having only 2 additional conventional 40″ buses (#258s run in pairs at the same scheduled time) that run only a few times in a day, which are usually pretty full already by the time they leave West Vancouver, stop and pick up passengers along Burrard (Downtown) and 4th Avenue. One additional #44 can pick up far more people than these two buses if they really wanted to increase capacity. The current trip time for West Vancouver residents on this Express bus from West Vancouver to UBC is ~30-35 minutes. With these many additional stops, traveling time is bound to increase by a significant percentage. It sort of eliminates the purpose of this bus as an express route as there is minimal difference between taking the #250 and switching to the #44 at Burrard… Basically, the improvements (minimal) are not proportional to the drawbacks. If anything, if this change WERE to be made anyways, at least have the bus pick up ONLY on 4th Avenue, as this is where most of the “Bus Full” pass-ups are on the existing #44 and #84 route to UBC. There is no point wasting time pulling in and picking up passengers in Downtown when the #44, #2, and #22 can handle it!
A truly inefficient part of this route that should actually be addressed is for the empty “Not in Service” bus runs from UBC back to West Vancouver in the morning and West Vancouver to UBC in the afternoon. Why not make a non-stop route from Park Royal/UBC on these trips instead of “Not in Service”. Even if it benefits a few people, if the driver is driving the same route anyways, why not pick up some passengers at the terminus stops since that doesn’t take additional time anyways for the drivers.
The bus should also be “Drop-off” only in the morning on the way to UBC. Not just “Pick-up” only in the afternoon on the way back to West Vancouver.
By the way, if this #258 change is implemented anyways, could you make a new #218 UBC from Phibbs Exchange that follows the same route as the 210 Vancouver and starting at Burrard, make the same stops in Downtown and 4th Ave as the #44 and #84… :) :) :)
NOTE: I take the #258 probably only once a month…
Hi Jasper, Thanks for your thoughtful response. I’ll pass your comments onto our planning folks, but if you get a chance, please make an official recommendation. I’ll keep you posted on decisions on the proposed service optimization changes.
@Jasper
It interesting to hear your thoughts on the #258/#44. But I’d have to say I’m definitely on the other side of the fence.
Having commuted from downtown to UBC for over 2 year (finally done now), and having a range of classes starting between 8am and 11am, I can say taking the 44 is such a gamble.
Any stop after Burrard Station, you have to plan for at least 2 busses early than you need to ensure you don’t miss your class. Having near-empty #258 fly down Burrard when jam packed #44’s leave you stranded is so frustrating. I don’t think anyone can say the #44 isn’t chronically overcrowded; it often leaves people stranded before even passing St. Paul’s!
I’d certainly support pick-up only on the #258 to UBC and then conversely drop-off only on the way back to West Vancouver in the evenings.
I can understand West Vancouver students not wanting their trip time to be lengthened, but I don’t see how they deserve a faster and more reliable trip than those commuting from downtown. And I don’t think pick-up only would increase the trip time much. While any extra capacity would be greatly appreciated from other UBC students. Certainly, West Vancouver students would never be displaced; they always get on first!
Also, the #2/#22 transfer to the #84 on 4th has never been that much more successful. By the time the #84 gets to MacDonald, it is just as full as the #44.
I do like your idea of a new bus from Phibbs (#218?). I knew a bunch of students who commuted from North Van (via #211/#210 and #44) who would benefit. But I don’t think the #258 has a very high utilization factor (relative to most Vancouver buses) so it would likely be cost effective to have the #258 pick people up than creating a new route.
Just my two cents.