Did you know: The 49 is the third busiest bus route in the network, serving more than 8.5 million trips between UBC Exchange and Metrotown Station.

If you’ve ridden the 49 during peak hours, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that approximately one in four buses on the route runs off schedule. When buses are off schedule, it makes it harder for you to plan your trips and get to your destination on time.

That’s why we are partnering with the City of Vancouver to adjust bus stop locations and improve bus lanes along parts of the Route 49 corridor to help more people get to their destinations reliably and on time.

What we’re planning

To make bus trips quicker and more reliable, we are proposing some changes between Crown St. and Boundary Rd.

• Relocating or removing one in three stops which are less frequently used or are spaced too close together. Since we are targeting some of the least-used stops on the route, more than 90 per cent of riders can continue using their current stop. If your stop is affected, another will be available within about a block.
• Adding up to three new stops near signalized crossings close to removed stops.
• Some stops with shared routes (such as the 41 41st Ave and the 26 29th Avenue Station/Joyce Station) may also change.

To see a list of the proposed stop changes, visit translink.ca/route49.

In addition to bus stop changes, the City of Vancouver is also planning bus lane improvements along parts of the corridor. The first phase will see bus lanes added in both directions between Cambie St. and Fraser St. from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. To learn more and share your feedback on bus lanes, visit vancouver.ca/49ave-transit.

Why the 49?

Route 49 is one of the most delayed bus routes in the region. A full trip between Metrotown and UBC can take over 18 minutes longer when delays build up. On 49^th Avenue, where one in three people travel by bus, delays can affect about 35,000 trips each weekday.

When it comes to bus stops, around half of the 123 bus stops along the 49 are spaced closer than the recommended 300 metres. When stops are too close together, buses stop more often, leading to delays. That is why the proposed changes to 28 closely spaced stops will make trips quicker and more predictable.

When we look at removing, consolidating, or adding a stop, the distance between stops is only part of the picture. We consider aspects such as accessibility, the number of riders, transfer points, nearby destinations, the condition and steepness of the sidewalk, and existing amenities like shelters and benches.

While we look at many factors when drafting a proposed plan, we want to make sure we haven’t missed anything. That is why we want to hear from you!

Tell us what you think!

Our plans are not final! We’d like to hear from you whether you travel to, from, or through the area. Take our survey by March 1 to share your thoughts on the proposed bus stop changes.

For more information, visit translink.ca/route49.