Roy Tubbs fears new bus route changes will create a “transit ghetto” in his neighbourhood.
Tubbs is appealing to city council for assistance in helping convince TransLink to reverse its recent changes to the 154 bus route. He said the changes have “significantly impacted” the ability of seniors living around Eighth Avenue and McBride Boulevard to get to Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street, where they go for medical appointments and X-rays, shopping and other services.
“If political pressure is not put on TransLink, they will not change the route,” he told The Record. “We are stuck. It will be transit ghetto down here.”
Opponents to the route changes say about 600 residents live in five seniors buildings around Royal Square mall, and those people are now being cut off from having direct access to the heart of the Uptown.
Since the change to bus routes took effect Sept. 22, Tubbs said seniors going to the Uptown have to transfer buses or walk a farther distance to get to their destinations. For seniors who use walkers, wheelchair and other mobility aids, he said walking from Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue is difficult.
“That’s a long way to bring your scooter, or even with a cane,” he said. “That is where the problem lies – it has basically isolated us from the hub.”
Tubbs has presented city council with a petition signed by 225 people opposed to the changes. Residents of Rotary Tower, Dunwood Place, Kiwanis Care Centre and Ross Tower are among the people living in the area.
According to TransLink, the 101 and 154 service has been realigned to simplify the network and improve the directness of routes. TransLink believes the 154 route missed an opportunity to provide direct services along the full length of Eighth Avenue and to connect with other routes at Sixth Avenue.
Instead of taking passengers to Sixth and Sixth, the 154 now travels along Eighth Avenue all the way to the 22nd Street SkyTrain station. The 101 has been rerouted from Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue to maintain capacity on this corridor.
According to TransLink, the benefits of the service redesign is a “more direct and simplified network,” while the tradeoff is that “some customers may have to connect to other services or walk further for certain trips.”
Tubbs said he and many others first learned of the changes Aug. 28 when he saw an advertisement in The Record. Although TransLink held a public information meeting about the proposed changes last fall, he said few people from his neighbourhood knew about the meeting.
“It’s a bit of a shock,” he said. “It has restricted our ability to travel.”
Coun. Lorrie Williams said she has no doubt the people who are impacted by TransLink’s decision would be able to fill city council’s chambers.
“Certainly, Sixth and Sixth is a major destination for people,” said Coun. Jonathan Cote. “You certainly have some very valid concerns.”
Coun. Betty McIntosh said part of TransLink’s rationale for changing the routes was to address concerns of residents living on Fifth Street.
“They were finding the noise a livability issue,” she said. “That was one reason why TransLink listened to some residents.”
McIntosh said another reason for changing the route so buses travel along Eighth Avenue was to give students a more direct connection to New Westminster Secondary School.
Tubbs believes a route option is available that will make everyone happy. He suggested the 154 bus could travel up Eighth Avenue, turn left at Sixth Street, turn right at Sixth Avenue, make another right turn at Eighth Street and turn left at Eighth Avenue and proceed to the 22nd Street SkyTrain station.
“The kids can get off at Eighth and Eighth – they are right at the school. The seniors can get where they are going,” he said. “There are no buses on Fifth Street.”
Tubbs said he was able to get more than 200 people to sign a petition posted at the bus stop near his home after just three-and-a-half days.
In February, longtime transit advocate Robert Howie appeared before council to express concerns about changes being proposed to the 101 and 154 routes in New Westminster. He warned council that changes to the 154 route could be inconvenient for some residents.
