A proposed transit link between downtown Vancouver and Squamish stole the show at two recent transit workshops on the North Shore.
The workshops took place on Feb. 9 and 15, to discuss the North Shore Area Transit Plan with residents. Those in attendance were presented with a list of 10 "near term" projects that TransLink said could be considered within 10 years.
Residents were then asked to vote on the projects that they felt were the most important. The most popular proposal was a new Sea-to-Sky highway route from downtown Vancouver to Park Royal and then north to Squamish.
TransLink representative Teresa O'Reilly said the overall plan will meet the needs of the community's growing population.
"By 2040, of all the trips that North Shore residents make, we would like to see 50 per cent of those be done by transit. Currently it is 10 per cent," said O'Reilly. "This is aspirational but definitely attainable."
Other major proposals presented by TransLink included:
- a B-Line service along Marine Drive from Phibbs Exchange to Dundarave;
- an east-west service on 29th Street and Queens Road between Lynn Valley Town Centre, Edgemont Village and Park Royal;
- a new express Highway 1 service between Horseshoe Bay and Brentwood Town Centre.
TransLink is also considering increasing the frequency of the SeaBus from every 15 minutes to 10-minute service.
According to O'Reilly, the plan aims to improve east-west commuting between North and West Vancouver.
Erin MacGregor, 29, a University of Calgary environmental planning student, questioned the overall need for the Sea-to-Sky highway route. "I had the most concern with the Squamish route because it's really only benefiting Squamish. The way it is designed is only a commuter peak-period type of service. It doesn't really benefit people on the North Shore," she said. "I was surprised that it got the most support."
TransLink currently operates as far north as Lions Bay.
MacGregor, who had an internship as a transit planner with TransLink in 2008, said improvements to North Shore transit are long overdue. "These routes haven't had any significant changes in years," she said. "This plan . . . is probably the first major change to transit on the North Shore in 40 years."
West Vancouver resident Marilyn Adams hopes TransLink takes riders' concerns seriously. "Sometimes I think they get data but not necessarily from the residents," she said. "I hope that they take that to heart and really evaluate what we have to say."
Richard Honkanen takes the 239 bus from Lonsdale Quay to Capilano University every morning for work and wants to see increased bus service. "Sometimes it takes half an hour to go from the university to the Quay. It would be nice to have frequent service," he said. "My bus route is about a 10-minute drive by car."
The proposed B-line route along Marine Drive was popular at both meetings. "It would be nice to have that frequent service with limited stops, so I can go from east to west," Honkanen said.
"The B-Line is a major upgrade that we haven't really seen before," MacGregor added. "I think it's the most important service."
According to MacGregor the proposed Lynn Valley Town Centre to Park Royal route has also been needed for a very long time.
Those hoping to see the SeaBus extend its current hours of operation are out of luck.
"There are options other than the SeaBus," O' Reilly said. "For residents who come home from Vancouver late at night we have bus service that runs late."
For more information on the proposed transit plans on the North Shore visit translink.ca.
