TransLink Bus Rapid Transit expansion at impasse, despite approvals

(Image courtesy of CBC)

As Vancouver continues to grow, so does its transit system, but it appears expansion is at an impasse.

Rapid Transit Program given green light

A couple of weeks ago, the Surrey City Council passed a motion advancing the design phase for the King George Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, project. The Rapid Transit Program, done by TransLink, plans to expand the region’s Major Transit Network by adding about 170 kilometres of rapid transit along as many as 11 corridors, nine of which are designated for rapid service. The first three corridors that are given priority to be built first for the BRT program are King George Boulevard in Surrey, Langley–Haney Place, which will run from Langley to Maple Ridge, and the Metrotown–North Shore that will run from North Vancouver to Burnaby.

Funding remains a challenge

However, the project is running into funding problems. TransLink has described these projects as “currently unfunded,” despite the detailed plans and roadway designs. TransLink estimates that the price tag to complete these projects would be $400 million per line, and with nine lines planned, would amount to a total of $3.6 billion. So far, neither the provincial nor the federal government has opted to pay the bill. TransLink has stated that it would like to complete all nine projects in the next 10 years.

Government dragging its feet hurts commuters

While the cost and timeline estimates seem reasonable for a project of this magnitude compared to other projects in North America, the lack of initiative will hurt BC commuters. According to Statistics Canada, those living in Vancouver have an average commute time of 30.5 minutes. While that number is better than Toronto, it is worse than Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Information retrieved from Statistics Canada (May 2024).

With the project in a state of limbo, questions mount on what new initiatives TransLink will pursue to make Vancouver more public transit-friendly.