The wheels on the bus, famously, go round and round. The problem is, during extreme winter weather, they may be just spinning on ice.
TransLink says it is deploying a number of new strategies this winter to help keep the transit system running when the Lower Mainland becomes blanketed with snow and ice.
“This year we’re preparing for the worst,” said Chris Bryan, TransLink spokesman, at a press conference on Thursday.
New features include updated de-icing technology for the SkyTrain and trolly bus system, overnight runs of the trains to keep the tracks free of snow, more staff on standby, better co-ordination with municipalities to ensure transit routes are plowed and, on some buses that climb the treacherous road to Simon Fraser University atop Burnaby Mountain, special “snow socks” for bus tires. The Kevlar “socks” wrap around bus tires similar to tire chains but give the wheel more surface traction.
Depending on how well the pilot project goes, TransLink may expand the program to other areas including the North Shore’s more topographically challenging routes.
“We’re optimistic that they’ll work well. But if they work really well, we’ll look at expanding them to other parts of the region as soon as we’re able to,” Bryan said.
The District of North Vancouver, meanwhile, has finished its annual winter preparations just as higher elevations are getting their first blast of winter weather.
“The snow plow drivers are all ready to go. We’ve got salt stockpiled. The trucks and the plows are all tuned up and ready to go. That’s the kind of thing we do at this time of year normally just to be ready for what the winter might bring,” said Stephanie Smiley, district spokeswoman. “I know we’ve trained a few more crew just to make sure we have the depth. Last year, it was quite extraordinary so we just want to make sure that we’re prepared for all eventualities.”
Residents and business owners should remember they must clear the sidewalks in front of their properties to ensure safe passage for pedestrians, Smiley added.
It’s too soon to talk about getting your skis or snowboard waxed but the North Shore’s ski hills are also starting to show signs of life.
“We basically had a blizzard come through (Thursday), which was amazing for this time of the year. It’s something you don’t normally see that early. But now we’ve got all the guns on making snow during this cold snap,” said Jofftrey Koeman, director of sales and marketing for Cypress Mountain.
