Vancouver weather: How TransLink changes impact bus routes

Locals will see some significant changes across the Metro Vancouver transportation network in the new year.

TransLink has announced numerous service changes for bus routes across the Lower Mainland, which will come into effect on Jan. 2, 2023.

The transit authority changes its bus service quarterly to "better reflect changing demand and travel patterns" across the region, spokesperson Dan Mountain told Vancouver Is Awesome in an email.

TransLink bases its changes on "route-specific ridership data and crowding metrics" and will be increasing overall bus service hours by 0.4 per cent in the new year.

"This includes changes to 45 routes throughout Metro Vancouver to put service where it’s needed most," he said, adding that the company will continue to monitor ridership patterns ahead of the next quarterly service change.

Ridership levels have recovered best in the Southeast sub-region (Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Township, and City of Langley) as well as in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, where ridership recovery was "driven by the R3 RapidBus service," Mountain added.

The transportation agency will increase service on 24 bus routes, including the lengthy N19 Downtown/Surrey Central Station Nightbus that carries passengers from the heart of downtown Vancouver to Surrey.

TransLink Metro Vancouver bus routes for January 2023

Here are some of the adjustments on routes that will see increased service in the winter of 2023.

23 Main St. Station/Beach
- First morning trip departs 15 minutes earlier on weekdays
- Wait times shortened one to five minutes on weekdays, weekends, and holidays
249 Lonsdale Quay/Delbrook
- Wait times shortened by 10 minutes on weekday afternoons
322 Newton Exchange/Scottsdale
- Wait times shortened five to 10 minutes on weekdays
745 Haney Place/Cottonwood
- Wait times shortened by 30 minutes on weekday afternoons, 60 minutes on Saturdays
N19 Downtown/Surrey Central Station NightBus
- Wait times shortened five to 40 minutes on Saturday mornings, 10 minutes on Fridays and Sunday/holiday mornings

Here are the remaining routes that will see increased service.

25 Brentwood Station/UBC
153 Coquitlam Central Station / Braid Station Wait
246 Highland / Downtown
319 Scott Station / Newton Exchange / Scottsdale
323 Newton Exchange / Surrey Central Station
324 Newton Exchange / Surrey Central Station
325 Newton Exchange / Surrey Central Station
335 Newton Exchange / Surrey Central Station
337 Fraser Heights / Guildford / Surrey Centre
364 Langley Centre / Scottsdale
371 Surrey Central / Scott Road Station
373 Guildford / Surrey Central Station
375 White Rock / White Rock South / Guildford
430 Metrotown / Brighouse Station
502 Langley Centre / Surrey Central Station
531 White Rock Centre / Willowbrook
562 Langley Centre / Walnut Grove
746 Haney Place / Albion
791 Haney Place / Braid Station

TransLink is also implementing "small service adjustments" on 14 routes to provide increased service at peak travel times and to reduce overcrowding. This will also mean that slower times of the day will see reduced service.

5 Robson / Downtown
6 Davie / Downtown
16 29th Avenue Station / Arbutus
22 Knight / Downtown
49 Metrotown Station / Dunbar Loop / UBC
100 22nd St. Station / Marpole Loop
123 New Westminster Station / Brentwood Station
240 Lynn Valley / Downtown
320 Langley / Fleetwood / Surrey Central Station
321 White Rock / Newton / Surrey Central Station
410 Richmond-Brighouse Station / 22nd St. Station
501 Langley Centre / Surrey Central Station
640 Ladner Exchange / Scott Road Station
R5 Hastings Street

Seven routes will see some adjustments when service is lower to "provide more service where it’s needed most." Multiple changes may affect people commuting within the city, including the 99 Commercial-Broadway/UBC (B-Line), which has been called one of North America's busiest routes -- at least pre-pandemic, according to Bloomberg.

3 Main / Downtown
9 Boundary / Commercial-Broadway / Granville / Alma / UBC
10 Granville / Downtown
20 Victoria / Downtown
99 Commercial-Broadway / UBC (B-Line)
503 Aldergrove / Surrey Central Station
R1 King George Blvd

Here are some of the frequency changes on the 99 B-Line:

Monday to Friday

Every 4 minutes towards UBC from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (from 3 minutes)
Every 3 to 5 minutes towards Commercial-Broadway from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. (from 3 minutes)
Every 4 to 6 minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (from 4 to 5 minutes)
Every 4 to 6 minutes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (from 3 to 4 minutes)
Every 6 to 8 minutes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (from 4 to 6 minutes)

Saturday

Every 10 minutes towards UBC from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. (from 7 to 9 minutes)
Every 10 minutes towards Commercial-Broadway from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. (from 8 to 9 minutes)
Every 6 to 7 minutes towards Commercial-Broadway from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (from 6 minutes)
Every 6 to 8 minutes towards UBC from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (from 6 minutes)
Every 7 to 9 minutes towards Commercial-Broadway from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (from 6 to 8 minutes)
Every 7 to 9 minutes towards UBC from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (from 6 to 8 minutes)

Sunday/Holiday

Every 7 to 8 minutes from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (from 6 minutes)

Visit TransLink online for route-specific details.

TransLink tackles frigid Metro Vancouver weather and ridership changes

TransLink put together a winter travel guide in November 2022 and replaced its articulated buses with 40’ conventional buses, as they are more agile in steep, slippery areas.

The Millennium Line trains were also switched to four-car configurations to increase capacity and SkyTrain attendants are on-scene to monitor guideways. A special overnight SkyTrain was also introduced to spray de-icer on the tracks to keep trains moving.

But TransLink doesn't change its tires for the winter season. Instead, it uses winter-rated tires with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol year-round.

TransLink has also provided a map of current ridership levels compared to 2019 ridership.