TransLink is seeking feedback on a package of proposed changes — some of which could affect UBC students by reducing bus stops or, in one case, cutting a bus line.
TransLink has put forth more than 85 proposed changes to their service. Included in that package are alterations to the 44 and the 258 bus lines which end at UBC. In the case of the 44, TransLink is asking customers about possibly reducing stops and eliminating the 258 altogether.
At Wednesday's AMS council meeting, council voted in favour of a motion to object to TransLink cancelling the 258 bus route to UBC.
"One of the things we have been working is a lot of the short term improvements to bus service provisions that are available to our students. One of the bus routes that [provides] a direct connecter between us and the Westernmost part of the North Shore was the 258," said VP External, Jude Crasta. "That’s why we strongly advise TransLink against the cancellation of such a service route."
The mayor of West Vancouver, Michael Smith, is also not in favour of the proposed changes and called the proposed cut completely unacceptable, according to North Shore News.
According to TransLink Spokesperson, Chris Bryan, a number of factors are taken into consideration when suggesting a package of changes and the company is prepared to make changes based on the feedback that they receive. However, they have identified the 258 as a more expensive route to service.
Last year, the 258 was one of the most expensive routes on the road, costing over $6 per boarded passenger with roughly 200 passengers per day.
“We actually analyze every single route in the region, all 212 … an important factor in our decision making is how much does it cost to deliver this service.” said Bryan. “But we also look at a number of priorities. You know we have to make sure we provide service in transit dependent areas and service transit dependent customers.”
Students living all the way out in West Vancouver who may not be able to afford a car or other form of transport and could be called transit dependent. While there are other options in terms of travel to UBC — the 250 and 257 take a similar path — passengers would have to transfer to the 44 in order to continue making their way out to UBC.
When asked what the AMS opposing this suggestion will look like, Crasta said, "[They] will be drafting a statement to send over to TransLink and I have … a meeting with the acting CEO of TransLink, Cathy McLay, that is supposed to take place sometime soon. I’m just waiting to hear back and we will be stating that opposition to those channels."
The 44 is another bus route that changes may be coming to — the proposed changes affect the Davie, Nelson, Georgia, Burrard, Granville and Waterfront Station stops, according to Bryan.
“We’ve found that, due to just the crowding that you find in the Downtown peninsula, it means that affects the reliability of that service so it slows things down,” said Bryan. “It’s quite a dense area so we see an opportunity to reduce the number of stops in Downtown, improve the reliability of the service [and get] those buses out of Downtown faster.”
This round of changes is particularly large - much bigger, in fact, than the usual package of changes sent out four times a year. The number of alterations can be attributed to the Evergreen Line being near completion. "That’s going to drive a lot of changes out in the Northeast like the tri-cities area, but it will also impact transit throughout the region,” said Bryan.
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