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West Van school board asks for B-Line changes

West Vancouver school board trustees are asking TransLink and the District of West Vancouver to halt plans for the proposed B-Line express bus to pass by or stage in front of Irwin Park Elementary.
irwin park

West Vancouver school board trustees are asking TransLink and the District of West Vancouver to halt plans for the proposed B-Line express bus to pass by or stage in front of Irwin Park Elementary.

The current proposed route has the articulated buses using Heywood Avenue, similar to the Blue Bus. At the Jan. 15 school board meeting, trustees raised concerns more bus traffic would threaten student safety.

“The pickup and drop-off times in front of Irwin Park and other schools are already busy times,” said Chris Kennedy, schools superintendent. “Our board is very careful to be clear they are in favour of improved transit, but they want to make sure any of that improved transit is thoughtful of student safety in and around our schools.”

The district doesn’t keep stats on how its teachers commute to work but Kennedy said he knows many of them are coming from North Vancouver. “So it’s a thought this might help that flow of traffic from there and farther afield,” he said.

In a statement, Mayor Mary-Ann Booth said she appreciates the school board’s concerns and that she is confident the municipality can find options that will work.