THE times they are a-changing.
Changed and extended bus routes across the North Shore and West Vancouver are expected to start running in late 2013 and early 2014 as a way to "better match travel demand, and make our system more efficient," TransLink announced last week.
The four affected routes are bus numbers 229, N24, 251 and the 252.
The 229 route currently servicing Lynn Valley will be shortened and a new 227 community shuttle will take its place between Lynn Valley and the Phibbs Exchange. The proposed route will have the 229s terminating at Lynn Valley Shopping Centre, where the 227 shuttle will take over the route to Phibbs Exchange. Bus frequency and times will stay exactly the same.
TransLink says the shift comes because of low rider-counts between the mall and exchange.
The N24 is stretching out to connect to the Lynn Valley Town Centre, instead of finishing in Upper Lonsdale. Bus frequency will stay the same. However, this reroutes the bus to take 29th Street to the mall, cutting off late night service into Upper Lonsdale north of 29th.
The 251 and 252 routes will see the most changes with the routes being heavily redesigned.
The proposed change will replace the one-way 251 and 252 with a two-way community shuttle service between Dundarave and Park Royal. TransLink believes this will improve access to local destinations and create a consistency in their routes, but it will cut out the direct connection to downtown Vancouver. Riders will have to switch to a different bus to go over the Lions Gate Bridge to downtown, such as the 250.
Other changes include the 252 going all the way across Mathers Avenue and then down to Marine Drive. The 251 will cut down to Inglewood Avenue and take over the neighbourhood loop formerly served by the 252. The 251 will also end up at Marine Drive.
Frequency is expected to stay the same for these two routes. TransLink says the one-way loops through local neighbourhoods are "indirect and difficult for passengers to use." The company also believes a standard bus is too big for lower-density areas with a higher rider demand on Marine Drive, as well as the current network being inconsistent through different time periods throughout the week.
For more information, visit translink.ca.
