The North Shore B-Line is dead. Long live RapidBus R2 Marine Drive.
TransLink has revealed the name and look of its fleet of express buses due to start running in 2020, including the Park Royal to Phibbs Exchange route.
The RapidBuses will be decked out in a green livery with blue accents, which is intended to help riders quickly differentiate them from the rest of the fleet.
The North Shore’s R2 route will run every eight minutes at rush hour, giving it a capacity of 1,650 people per hour, according to TransLink.
TransLink estimates the trip can be made 20 per cent faster than it would take a traditional bus, thanks to dedicated bus lanes, signal priority and queue jumps at intersections and all-door boarding. Roadwork to accommodate RapidBus is happening already, but the District of West Vancouver’s decision to cancel service to Dundarave and put the terminus at Park Royal has put the project behind schedule, according to a TransLink staff report.
“For the Marine Drive route on the North Shore, work is underway with a target completion of January 2020; however, the complexity of the interventions and agreeing to final designs has impacted the schedule for critical works, potentially requiring several more months for completion in [the first quarter of] 2020,” the report stated. “TransLink will continue to work with West Vancouver staff and council to explore options for possible future B-Line improvements in the district.”
The B-Line to RapidBus rebranding is receiving mixed reviews but North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma said she likes the discussion it’s stimulated – and the fact it’s rapidity is front and centre.
“I know that the tendency is for people to see buses as lesser forms of public transit to SkyTrain or rail, but the reality is dedicated bus rapid transit – or RabidBus as they’re going to be branded – is a really, really cost effective way to provide really good public transit service and it takes a lot less time to implement than waiting for fixed-link rail,” she said.
Meanwhile, TransLink continues to work on plans for a Phibbs to Metrotown express bus, which Ma said could also begin service in 2020.
For amenities, TransLink is promising real-time next-bus digital signs at every stop, real-time voice activated information, sheltered RapidBus stops, and larger articulated hybrid buses.
The announcement was welcomed by Patrick Stafford-Smith, North Vancouver Chamber CEO.
“Creating a connected North Shore that supports both our residents and businesses takes investment. We are excited at the prospect of new transit that is rapid, frequent, reliable and accessible, bringing both employees and customers closer to our front doors,” he said in a release. “RapidBus will deliver greater transportation certainty and provide the backbone we need to support North Vancouver’s economic strength.”
