Bus service slowing across Metro Vancouver, new TransLink report says

A TransLink report showing that buses are running slower than ever in Metro Vancouverwon't come as much of a surprise to anyone who regularly uses transit.

Nor will any of the places listed as theworst for passenger delays, led by the ever-congested King George Boulevardand 104 Avenue corridor in Surrey, B.C.

The 2019 Bus Speed and Reliability Report says growing traffic congestion is to blame for the fact that a full 80 per cent of all routes in the TransLinksystem are running slower than they did five years ago.

"Everybodyknows that slow and particularly unreliable bus service really affects the experience and can cause a lot of anxiety," said TransLink senior bus manager Daniel Freeman.

Rider satisfaction isn't the only thing taking ahit. TransLinkestimates the cost of delays to its bottom line is$75million per year, or 12 per cent of its bus-operating budget.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmondsaysmunicipalities, the provincial government and his organization need to work together to keep the buses moving.

"There's only so much TransLink can do on its own regional collaboration will be key to implementing the kinds of bold transit priority programs that will enable us to continue to makebuses anattractive option for the public," said Desmond.

According to TransLink data,61 per cent of all transit boardings are on a bus. That's compared to 26 per cent on the SkyTrain'sExpo and Millennium lines and 11 per cent on the Canada Line.

Additionally, numbers show that bus ridership is up 14 per cent in the last three years.

But the report says TransLink's hands are tied when it comes to its own influence onmaintaining and improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the bus service.

TransLinksays the most effective tools things like traffic signals, roadand intersection design, and lane management are the responsibility of municipalitiesand the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

However, the report points out that prioritizingbuses over other road users often becomesa political hot potato.

"For example, converting general travel lanes orparking lanes into bus lanes is a fast, effectiveand inexpensive way to improve busservice; however, the explicit re-allocation of space from one user to another oftenarouses opposition," says the report.

Freeman says some of the fixes could happen quickly if there was support from the municipalities.

He cites a a recent example in Delta where adding a dedicated left hand turn bay at 84thAvenue and Scott Road shaved two minutes off the schedules of all the buses turning there.

"Municipalstaff need to weigh a bunch of other considerations when they make changes to street operations and so we're here to support them with information and also funding to make those changes possible," said Freeman.

Top 10 worst transit corridors

The following corridors, listed with the authority responsible for theirmanagement, create the most delay for bus riders, according to the TransLink report:

1. King George Boulevard/104 Avenue City of Surrey
2. Highway 99 City of Richmond, Ministry of Transportation
3. 41st Avenue City of Vancouver
4. Broadway City of Vancouver
5. Hastings Street City of Vancouver, City of Burnaby
6. Scott Road/72 Avenue City of Surrey, City of Delta
7. Main/Marine Drive District of West Vancouver, District and City of North Vancouver, Province of B.C.
8. Fraser Highway City of Surrey, City and Township of Langley, Province of B.C.
9. West Georgia Street/Lions Gate Bridge City of Vancouver, Province of B.C.
10. Granville Street City of Vancouver