TransLink is considering changes to a number of bus routes in New Westminster and wants residents’ input before making those changes.
The transit authority is inviting the public to have a say on proposed transit changes across Metro Vancouver by taking part in a survey. TransLink is giving the public a chance to complete an online survey until Nov. 6. You can find the survey at
New Westminster Coun. Jaimie McEvoy, a regular transit user, encourages people to review the proposed changes and do the survey. Having done the online survey himself, he notes that people will be going back and forth between the survey and maps of the different routes.
“It takes a bit of dedication,” he said. “There is a fair amount of going back and forth. I did the survey on the New West routes and it took me more than half an hour.”
In New Westminster, changes are being considered on the Metrotown-Edmonds-New Westminster (106) and New Westminster community shuttles (C3, C4, C8 and C9) routes.
The proposed changes to the 106 include: splitting the route into two services at Edmonds station; redesigning the route to only travel between Edmonds and New Westminster stations via Edmonds and Sixth streets; introducing the New K to travel from Metrotown to Edmonds stations via Kingsway.
According to TransLink, it’s proposing changing to this route because the 106 can be unreliable due to traffic congestion and delays along this long route. It also states that a majority of passengers transfer at Edmonds station.
With the community shuttles, TransLink is proposing to discontinue the C# and C8 and replace them with the New J and to discontinue the C4 service and replace it with the New H. Other changes would include rerouting the C9 to Richmond Street and introducing a new bus-only left turn signal on Cumberland Street.
According to TransLink, it’s proposing these changes because the C3 route is delayed and unreliable due to congestion on McBride Boulevard and the C3 experiences overcrowding between Victoria Hill and SkyTrain. TransLink states that customers frequently request improved connections to uptown New Westminster.
TransLink’s proposed map of community shuttles indicated the New J line would travel via Quayside Drive, Columbia Street, Agnes Street, Royal Avenue and Ross Drive. The New H would travel via Columbia Street, Second Street, Sixth Avenue, Cumberland Street, Eighth Avenues, Colborne Street, Ovens Avenue, First Street, Eighth Avenue, Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue.
Without new funding, TransLink states that shifting services to where it’s most needed is one of the ways it’s able to respond to growing and shifting customer needs across the transit network.
“As we plan for the future, we need to hear from the people who use our transit services,” Colleen Brennan, TransLink’s vice president of communications and customer experience, said in a news release.
“No final decisions have been made and we’re listening to our customers so we can take their concerns and feedback into account.”
In addition to the route changes directly proposed in New Westminster, McEvoy suspects local residents could be impacted by the cuts to the “night bus” in Vancouver.
Residents can find the survey at www.translink.ca/tnc.
