Vancouver’s world-renowned for its mixed-use developments, a robust public transit system and green space preservation.
Now it’s been captured in a new book called Vancouverism by Larry Beasley, a TransLink board member and urban planner. He details the city’s transformation from Expo 86 all the way to 2010 when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics.
“In that period, this city transformed from a very traditional North American city — car oriented, very much homogenized in its culture — to a real trendsetter in the world, a world city,” says Larry.
As Vancouver’s former chief planner, Larry gives readers the inside scoop on what they were trying to achieve and how a good public transit system plays a role in Vancouverism.
“If you don’t have a good transit system, you really can’t cluster people so easily. If you don’t cluster people, you don’t have a very good transit system. You find you have to choreograph both of these things together in order to get to an optimal city,” he says.
As we develop Transport 2050, a new shared regional strategy that will help navigate the next 30 years of transportation in Metro Vancouver, it’s important for us to look back while looking ahead. Read more »
We’ve asked thought leaders to share their vision for the future of transportation. What do you see? Shape the future of how we move and live. Visit transport2050.ca.
Imagining the future requires first looking to the past and contemplating the evolution in transportation cycles (pun intended). In the late 19th century bicycles were the primary form of transportation in most North American cities, before cars became the dominant mode.
The first bicycle sharing program launched in Amsterdam in 1965 to counter pollution. When the first shared bikes were released on the city streets for anyone to use many of them were stolen or damaged, and the program was quickly shut down and considered a failure. It would take another 50 years before technology allowed public bike share to become more widespread. Now, there are an estimated 1,000,000 shared bicycles around the world. Read more »
The 4th annual Bike the Night is Saturday, September 7. (Photo: HUB Cycling)
We’ve partnered with our friends at HUB Cycling to bring you the biggest party on two wheels… the 4th annual Bike the Night!
On Saturday, September 7, 10 kilometres of streets in downtown Vancouver, including the Burrard Street Bridge, will be opened up exclusively for cyclist participants. Tunes and pop-up dance parties included!
This family-friendly event kicks off at 6 p.m. at Sunset Beach with a festival featuring music, food trucks, free snacks and tune-ups, games and tons of giveaways and prizes. Then families and slow riders hit the road at 7:45 p.m., and all others at 8 p.m. for a ride around False Creek back to Sunset Beach. Read more »
After three months of engagement, you’ve shared your values, transportation priorities, and ideas for the future – so far over 16,000 surveys and 1,600 ideas have been submitted! Read more »
David Zipper, a mobility-as-a-service expert, was one of the speakers at the latest talk in TransLink Tomorrow’s The Future of Mobility speaker series, held on July 24 at SFU’s Vancouver campus.
The future could look very different from today.
Climate change, new technologies, and a shifting global economy are creating new opportunities and challenges that we need to consider.
What will it take to realize mobility-as-a-service in Metro Vancouver?
That’s the question we put to MaaS experts David Zipper and Catherine Kargas at the latest talk in TransLink Tomorrow’s The Future of Mobility speaker series, held on July 24 at SFU’s Vancouver campus.
A panel discussion followed with Zipper, Kargas and SFU economics professor Hendrik Wolff, moderated by movmi CEO Sandra Philips. Read more »
TransLink, its family of companies and their employees are proud to march in the 2019 Vancouver Pride Parade and be your ride to this year’s festivities.
We hope you’ll join us whether its on transit or in the parade — look for us in our PrideBus! Read more »
For over a century, the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) has showcased the best of Vancouver to the rest of Canada and the world at its annual summer fair.
This summer, from August 17 – September 2 (closed Monday, August 19 and 26), TransLink will be on site at the PNE Fair, bringing you the past, present, and future of transportation to Metro Vancouver!
Join us at the Transport 2050 Expo, featuring a 3D “MicroCity” animated model of Metro Vancouver and an immersive virtual reality experience. Check out the Transport 2050 Engagement Bus and take our survey for a chance to win tickets to that night’s show.
Our Transport 2050 Expo will also feature a TransLink Store pop-up shop and fun, interactive exhibits and displays from our partners.
Stay tuned to The Buzzer blog and TransLink’s social media channels in the coming weeks for more details and an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look before it opens.
Take transit to the PNE
The PNE Fair’s main entrance is located at the corner of Renfrew Street and Hastings Street in Vancouver, near bus stops for the 14 16, 95 B-Line, 210 and 211.
As always, in addition to the usual service in the area, we’ll be adding extra service to take you to and from the PNE. Look out for the special buses departing from Phibbs Exchange, 29th Avenue Station and Renfrew Station:
The 16 PNE special runs between the Expo Line’s 29th Avenue Station, the Millennium Line’s Renfrew Station and the Pacific Coliseum. Along this corridor, the extra service provides an additional 4-5 buses per hour between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.
The 210 PNE special runs between Phibbs Exchange and the Pacific Coliseum. Along this corridor, the extra provides an additional 2 buses per hour between 10 a.m. and midnight.
Double up your savings with Fair Fridays
Let’s take transit to the PNE Fair and save! Show your Compass Card and other Compass fare products at the PNE Fair Gate on Fridays, August 23 and 30 to receive a 2-for-1 admission for adults (14-64 years of age) and seniors (65+ years of age).
TransLink has been awarded the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
TransLink has been awarded the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
Read this open letter to our customers from our CEO, Kevin Desmond!
To our valued customers:
It is with great pride and humility that I share with you the news that TransLink has been awarded the prestigious American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award for 2019. While the award recognizes the work that has been done to improve our organization’s customer service, on-time performance, and efficiency – the real recognition should go to you, TransLink’s customers.
It hasn’t always been an easy path forward. Four years ago, public confidence in the organization was at an all-time low, and you asked us to do better. To the credit of our employees, and with the support of our customers, board of directors and policy-makers, we stepped up and took on these challenges. Because of you we brought in a new culture of public accountability, holding ourselves accountable for our actions, finances, and commitments. This was a major milestone for us as we shifted our focus to the Customer Experience, ensuring customers are at the heart of every decision TransLink makes.
Today, I’m writing on behalf of all of us at TransLink to express our deepest appreciation for sticking with us and encouraging us to do better each and every day. Read more »
Upgrades to the bus exchange at 22nd Street Station are now complete. Let’s talk about just how cool the station is because let’s be honest, it’s often overlooked amongst the architectural marvels of our vast transit network!
One of the older transit hubs in the region, the elevated 22nd Street Station was built in 1985 as part of the original version of the Expo Line. Located on a hill above the Queensborough Bridge interchange, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Fraser River and Mount Baker from the SkyTrain platform.
But, it’s what lies below the SkyTrain station that matters most: an eight-bay bus loop that was constructed along with the original station. This is what gives the exchange its true value to our transit network.
As part of our TransLink Tomorrow program, we’re launching a new pilot program that will test on-demand transit services for Bowen Island residents and tourists.
Instead of having to follow set timetables, anyone on the island will be able to use a mobile app called TapRide — think of it as ride haling for public transit or transit hailing! The app will allow you to book journeys and track buses in real-time.
If you’re a Bowen Island transit customer or a tourist to the island, visit translink.ca/bowen to download the TapRide app. Not an app person? No problem! There’s also an online and phone-in booking system (more info on that via translink.ca/bowen) Read more »
The independent, year-long technical study found that to ensure the SkyTrain system could be properly maintained, significant operational changes would be required including a reduction of SkyTrain operating hours during weekdays and full closures of the system on some statutory holidays. Read more »
Our Transport 2050 engagement team and bus will be at community events throughout the summer!
TransLink is creating a new strategy for the next 30 years of transportation called Transport 2050, and we need your help. Find us at community events throughout the region to tell us how you want to move and live! Read more »
Staffer Dwayne Cunningham voices TransLink’s National Indigenous Peoples Day announcement on SkyTrain.
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day and we’re thrilled to be marking this occasion on SkyTrain with voice announcements.
The voice belongs to Dwayne Cunningham, a TransLink staffer and member of the Katzie First Nation, whose traditional territories are along Fraser River near Port Hammond in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Dwayne spent his teenage years living on the Katzie Indian Reserve and remains active in the community today, visiting his extended family at least once a month.
He says Indigenous cultures like the Katzie can feel distant, but there are vibrant communities throughout British Columbia and across Canada – all doing historically interesting and exciting things. Everything from pow wow dances to participating in Native fisheries throughout the summer.
The upgrades at SkyTrain’s Joyce–Collingwood Station are now complete and not only is there a new, upgraded elevator and escalator to improve passenger access, there’s a colourful public art installation that wraps around the new stationhouse and the nearby bus loop! Read more »
After just one month of engagement, Metro Vancouverites have completed almost 9,000 surveys and shared almost 900 bold and creative ideas for the future.
TransLink is leading the development of Transport 2050, a new long-term transportation strategy for our region. And thousands of you who live, work and play across Metro Vancouver have stepped up to have a say!
Transport 2050 will set out what our region needs to build, do, and provide to meet our transportation needs between now and 2050. And a regional strategy needs regional input, so we’ve launched the largest engagement in our history to ask: What’s important to you? What are your transportation priorities? And, what are your ideas for the future?
After just one month of engagement, Metro Vancouverites have completed almost 9,000 surveys and shared almost 900 bold and creative ideas for the future. Below are some highlights from Phase 1 of engagement but if you haven’t taken part yet – don’t despair! You can participate until September 22. Read more »
