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TransitImage:Translink-busscheds.jpg Schedule booklets, with a booklet for each region (including a separate one for West Vancouver Blue Bus). The booklets cover buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus, community shuttles and West Coast Express. Buses
Within the City of Vancouver, buses run on a grid system, with most trolleybus routes operating radially out of Downtown and along north-south arteries, and most diesel buses providing east-west crosstown service (with the University of British Columbia (UBC) as their western terminus). Outside of the city boundaries, most buses operate on a hub-and-spoke system along feeder routes that connect with SkyTrain, SeaBus, or West Coast Express, or with express bus routes that travel directly to Downtown Vancouver or to other regional centres. Image:Vancouver trolley2101 050720.jpg One of the new fleet of trolley buses introduced in 2006. Three high-capacity, high-frequency B-Line express routes use diesel articulated buses, rounding out the interregional backbone provided by SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express. (For more information, see 97 B-Line, 98 B-Line, or 99 B-Line.) The electric trolley buses operate on major routes in the city of Vancouver with one route extending to neighbouring Burnaby. Most trolley bus routes in Vancouver operate in a north-south direction. They get electricity from an extensive network of overhead wires. Beginning in the fall of 2006, TransLink will begin operating a new generation of electric trolley buses, replacing the existing models built in the early 1980s. The new trolley buses will have low floors, replacing the existing high-floor models, and will be fully wheelchair-accessible.
SkyTrainImage:MetrotownStation.jpg Metrotown in Burnaby is a busy SkyTrain station. Originally completed in 1985 as a transit showcase for Expo 86, the SkyTrain automated light rail network has become an important transportation system. SkyTrain's Expo Line now operates from downtown Vancouver through southern Burnaby, New Westminster, and into Surrey. There was further expansion in the completion of the Millennium Line (opened in 2002), linking eastern New Westminster and northern Burnaby to Vancouver. The line was also expected to eventually branch north-east through Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, but this proposal has since been replaced with plans for the Evergreen Line, a street-level light rail line. SkyTrain is operated by British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd., a subsidiary of TransLink. The Canada Line (formerly known as the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Line), currently being built, will run underground through the city and then along an elevated guideway on two branches, one to Richmond and one terminating at Vancouver International Airport; since it will not be using linear induction motors it will not bear the SkyTrain name, thus will use different trains incompatible with the existing SkyTrain network. The new line will not share track or tunnels with the existing SkyTrain network, but it will connect with SkyTrain at Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver. Commuter railWest Coast Express is a commuter railway connecting Vancouver to communities of the GVRD and FVRD north of the Fraser River to Mission. It is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink. FerriesSeaBus is a passenger ferry service across Burrard Inlet between Vancouver and the North Shore municipalities that is operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and is integrated with the transit system. The Albion ferry is a free automobile ferry service between Langley Township and Maple Ridge across the Fraser River. Transit faresImage:Translink-faremap.svg TransLink Fare Map Below are the fare prices in Canadian Dollars:
Concession fares apply to children between 5 and 13, seniors 65+, and high school students 14-19 with a valid student identification card from a school in Greater Vancouver (known as GoCard). Children ages 4 and under ride for free. Zone fares apply weekdays before 6:30 pm; during the evening and on weekends, passengers can travel throughout the system on a one-zone fare. University students receive a U-Pass, which is included as part of their school fees and is good for three-zones. Transit securityTransLink replaced in-house security operations with a full fledged police force in December 2005. The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service replaced the former TransLink special constables. The move was not without controversy, as some riders objected to armed officers patrolling the system. A court case in which a woman was awarded $52,000 for allegedly being beaten by a flashlight-wielding officer, in an incident that occurred before the transition, confirmed such fears for some. [1] In contrast to the former TransLink specials, GVTAPS Constables have full police powers. Coast Mountain Bus Company also has its own Security Department. Transit Security Officers are mobile, ride buses, and patrol Translink Properties. They are not the same as the GVTAPS, although they work closely together to ensure a safe Transit system. Transit Security Officers are authorized to arrest persons found committing criminal offences to or on Translink Property. The Security Department will be growing as the 2010 Olympic Winter Games approach. On November 14, 2006, the Canadian government announced the approval of $37 million for improvements to transit security across Canada, including $9.8 million for the Vancouver area, although no details have been released as to how it will be spent.[2] LiveryShortly after its inception, the TransLink board of directors approved to replace the old colours of BC Transit with TransLink's new blue and yellow colour scheme or livery. It also created brands for all the different services, with them all having different designs but the same colours, with the exception of the West Coast Express. They decided against changing the purple to blue since it was close enough with the yellow, and the purple and yellow creates a premium branding over the blue and yellow. Repainting all the vehicles has not incurred any additional costs as it is being done during regular maintenance repaints or new vehicle purchases. As of when it was approved, TransLink estimated it would take until the end of the year 2007 before the entire fleet was be converted to the new livery. RoadsTransLink is also responsible for the major road network in the Lower Mainland. This is generally the major (non-highway) arteries that are used by those going from one municipality to another. This includes 2,200 lane km of roadways and the Knight Street Bridge, Pattullo Bridge, Westham Island Bridge and the future Golden Ears Bridge. For major projects, Translink co-ordinates and funds the projects. For minor projects, Translink contributes half of the costs of projects which are spearheaded by municipalities, up to the maximum funding allocated to the specific municipality. Transit-related improvementsA growing network of cycling paths exists throughout the region. Translink allocates each city funding for transit capital improvements such as transit priority signals, queue-jumping lanes for buses, and bus lanes. Translink contributes half of the costs of projects which are spearheaded by municipalities, up to the maximum funding allocated to the specific municipality. CyclingTranslink allocates each city funding for cycling capital improvements such as bike paths on matching system. Translink contributes half of the costs of projects which are spearheaded by municipalities, up to the maximum funding allocated to the specific municipality. Translink provides online maps of the area's cycling network on its website. Many buses operated by Translink already have bike racks and the whole bus fleet will eventually have bike racks. Bikes are also allowed on the Seabus. Bikes are allowed on Skytrain except during rush hour in the peak direction (inbound to Vancouver in the morning rush hour, outbound from Vancouver in the evening rush hour). Emission controlAirCare is a regionally mandated automobile emissions program and is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink. Translink plans to phase out the program by 2011. AccessibilityImage:Wheelchair.svg Accessible stops and vehicles on the TransLink system display the international symbol of access, which depicts a person in a wheelchair Though there have been improvements, wheelchair-accessibility remains a problem on parts of the system. Accessibility issues will become particularly important for the company with the hosting of the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. Consequently, Translink has undertaken the Access Transit Project with a final report due to the Translink board in mid 2006. BusesCurrently, while most diesel buses on regular routes are accessible by specially designed lifts or ramps, some bus stops are considered inaccessible if there is deemed to be insufficient room to deploy the lifts/ramps, and some trips on some routes are run as non-accessible for various reasons. Occasional equipment problems have been an issue as well. In addition, some wheelchair users have complained that drivers sometimes fail to board wheelchairs before other passengers, which results in difficulties boarding, turning, and parking in the designated wheelchair areas. Since there is only space for two wheelchairs on each accessible bus, and since the wheelchair area is also used for walkers and baby strollers, at busy times wheelchair users sometimes have to wait for several buses to go by before they can board. The introduction of the new fare boxes on all the buses also met with complaints from many wheelchair users, since their size and placement makes it difficult for users of certain types of chairs or electric scooters to manoeuvre around them. In August 2006, TransLink began replacing its entire fleet of inaccessible electric trolley buses with low-floor trolley buses: 188 standard 12.2 metre (40 foot) vehicles. In mid 2008, it will introduce 40 articulated 18.3 metre (60 foot) buses. Since these buses are the only transit vehicles that cover certain routes, including almost the entire West End, most of Downtown, and several major transit corridors, this means that entire areas are without accessible transit, and people with mobility problems must use taxis or HandyDART (see below) or go far out of their way as a result. SkyTrainWhile all SkyTrain vehicles are themselves accessible (each older Mark I car has one wheelchair designated spot, the newer Mark II cars have two), three SkyTrain stations are not fully accessible. The stations with accessibility issues are Columbia Station and Scott Road Station. Beginning in April 2006, Sapperton Station is not accessible due to construction of near-by residential building, which will close the station entrance ramp (but not the stairs) for twelve to fourteen months. Elevator problems have also been a concern, with work on elevators at some stations making them inaccessible for up to a month at a time. In addition, while many of the elevators at the new stations along the Millennium Line are bright and glass enclosed, some elevators at older stations are small, dark, and removed from main entrances and exits, giving rise to concerns for personal safety. HandyDARTHandyDART is a supplementary system that provides transit to those who are unable to use the regular system due to mobility problems or a lack of accessible transit. HandyDART service is operated by seven different contractors in Greater Vancouver, which are generally not-for-profit corporations. HandyDART users must apply for a pass, and must also pay for each trip. Trip must be pre-booked, up to one week in advance, and are subject to availability for the desired time. Each contractor operates regionally, meaning that it is not always possible to take HandyDART for the entire intended trip (for example, from Burnaby to Vancouver), but only part way. In addition, some riders have been refused permission to use the system as they have been deemed "too independent." TransLink board of directorsThe TransLink board is made up of 12 members appointed by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, representing the municipalities in the Greater Vancouver. The provincial government has the option of appointing three members to the board as well, but in 2001 the incumbent appointees resigned, citing conflict of interest with their positions as members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Since that time, the provincial government has declined to name any representatives to the board. The current members of the board, appointed on January 6, 2006, are:
The conflicting interests of the board members, whose primary responsibility is to the electors in their municipality, often causes problems. Most board members are from suburban municipalities, whereas the heaviest transit users are in the City of Vancouver. Citizens of all GVRD municipalities fund Translink through their fuel and property taxes, while citizens of the City of Vancouver, due higher population densities, enjoy many more transit routes as well as much more frequent transit service than citizens living outside the city. As a result of the conflict, the provincial government decided to evaluate the structure of the board and to produce a report with recommendations on improving governance. This report has not yet been completed. 2007 reorganizationOn March 8, 2007, BC Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon announced a restructuring of TransLink. Major changes include new revenue generating measures, a restructuring of the executive of the body, and increases in the area under TransLink's jurisdiction.[3][4] The reorganized TransLink will feature the following characteristics[4]:
Falcon had previously called the current board "dysfunctional"[4] and also that the members of the board of directors were too focused on the interests of their own municipality instead of the broader interests of the GVRD.[5] According to Falcon, the board of directors had "...no ability there to develop the skill-set to understand major, multi-billion projects."[5] New Democratic Party of British Columbia critic David Chudnovsky responded, saying that the idea was "ludicrous" and that, according to him, the purpose of the reorganization was "to get power away from our elected municipal politicians because once in a while they disagree with the aggressive privatization agenda of Mr. Falcon".[4] Chudnovsky was also worried about the consequences of a property development slowdown. References
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