RapidBus (TransLink)
RapidBus is an express bus network with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| RapidBus | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| System | TransLink |
| Operator | Coast Mountain Bus Company |
| Began service | January 6, 2020[1] |
| Routes | 6 |
| Stops | 75 |
History edit
On November 23, 2016, the Mayors' Council and TransLink's board of directors approved the first phase of the 10-Year Vision, which included provisions for new B-Line routes (later rebranded as RapidBus) which began service in January 2020.[2] In July 2019, TransLink announced that all future B-Line routes would officially be launched under new "RapidBus" branding and that the 95 and 96 B-Lines would also transition to that branding, leaving route 99 as the only remaining B-Line.[3]
The first wave of routes using the RapidBus branding – consisting of the R1 King George Blvd (the former 96 B-Line), the new R3 Lougheed Hwy, the new R4 41st Ave (replacing the 43 express service along 41st Avenue), and the R5 Hastings St (the former 95 B-Line) – launched on January 6, 2020.[4][1]
The R2 Marine Dr launched on April 6, 2020, after construction delays, replacing the former 239.[5] The R6 Scott Rd launched on January 2, 2024, for service in Surrey and Delta.[6][7]
Features edit
- All-door boarding
- Shelters and benches at stops
- Tactile pads
- Real-time information
- Information panels at stops
- On-board route diagrams
- Transit priority measures on streets to improve travel times
- Custom exterior bus livery
- Frequent service
RapidBus routes edit
Phase 1 edit
| Route | Launch date | Termini | Connections | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 King George Blvd | September 2, 2013 (as 96 B-Line) | Guildford Exchange | Newton Exchange | 12 | |
| R2 Marine Dr | April 6, 2020[5] | Park Royal Exchange | Phibbs Exchange | 10 | |
| R3 Lougheed Hwy | January 6, 2020 | Coquitlam Central station | Haney Place Exchange | 8 | |
| R4 41st Ave | September 4, 2000 (as 43) | UBC Exchange | Joyce–Collingwood station | 17 | |
| R5 Hastings St | December 19, 2016 (as 95 B-Line) | Burrard station | SFU Exchange | 16 | |
Phase 2 edit
| Route | Launch date | Termini | Connections | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R6 Scott Rd | January 2, 2024[7] | Scott Road station | Newton Exchange | 13 | |
Future phases edit
| Route | Launch date | Termini | Connections | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions Gate | 2024 | Stadium–Chinatown station | Lynn Valley Centre | ||
| Victoria Drive | 2024 | Downtown | Harrison Loop | ||
| White Rock | 2024 | Newton Exchange | White Rock Centre | ||
| Coquitlam to Langley | 2024 | Coquitlam Central station | Langley Centre | ||
| R2 Metrotown to North Shore extension | TBD | Metrotown station | Park Royal Exchange | ||
Cancelled RapidBus routes edit
Fraser Highway edit
Proposals for a Fraser Highway B-Line were made in 2018 along with what would become the Marine Drive, Lougheed Highway, and 41st Avenue RapidBus routes.[8] However, a decision was made in December of that year to cancel the proposed route (which would have been rebranded as RapidBus)[3] in favour of a revision of service on routes 502 and 503 in the short term, and an extension of the Expo Line from Surrey to Langley Centre in the long term.[9]
R7 Richmond – Metrotown station edit
This line was cancelled in October 2023 following the rejection of a proposed route by Richmond's city council. The R7 route would have roughly followed the existing 430 route via Bridgeport Road, the Knight Street Bridge, and 49th Avenue.[10]
Bus rapid transit lines edit
TransLink intends to implement 9 bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the coming decade, including 3 that will be upgraded from RapidBus, contingent on funding from senior levels of government.[11] The lines will feature all-day frequent service with limited stops, near-continuous dedicated lanes and signal priority at major intersections, high-capacity buses with all-door boarding.[12] The lines will have "rail-like" stations with next-bus departure screens, transit maps and weather protection.[12]
Future phases edit
| Route | Launch date | Termini | Connection | Stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King George Boulevard[13] | TBD | Guildford Exchange | White Rock | ||
| Langley to Haney Place[13] | TBD | Haney Place Exchange | Langley Centre | ||
Possible BRT lines edit
Metrotown to North Shore edit
On November 16, 2023, TransLink made an announcement detailing three priority rapid transit corridors, including the Metrotown to North Shore corridor. The announcement called for an "immediate" extension of the R2 RapidBus past Phibbs Exchange to Metrotown station, as well as the prioritization of a BRT line.[14] However, several sources, including a page on TransLink's website, indicate that BRT on this corridor is only a possibility and that other rail-based modes are also being considered.[13]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "RapidBus is Coming!". YouTube. TransLink. from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ (PDF). tenyearvision.translink.ca. TransLink. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ a b Saltman, Jennifer (July 24, 2019). "TransLink unveils new RapidBus service to replace B-Lines". The Vancouver Sun. from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ . translink.ca. TransLink. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- ^ a b "R2: Marine Dr". translink.ca. TransLink. from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-unveils-new-r6-rapidbus-in-surrey-1.7072835
- ^ a b "R6 Scott Road RapidBus". TransLink.ca. TransLink. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ "TransLink to add 4 new B-Line bus routes by end of 2019". CTV Vancouver. March 7, 2018. from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ (PDF). TransLink. December 13, 2018. p. 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (October 16, 2023). "No BRT, no RapidBus: Richmond City Council rejects TransLink's proposed route to Metrotown". Daily Hive Vancouver. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (April 20, 2022). "TransLink to double bus service, including 9 new Bus Rapid Transit lines | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "BRT Attributes for Metro Vancouver" (PDF). Translink. November 16, 2023. (PDF) from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Bus Rapid Transit". www.translink.ca. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Announcing new rapid transit corridors 🚌, retrieved November 17, 2023
External links edit
- TransLink