While five bus routes in the Lower Mainland are being upgraded to “RapidBus” routes in 2020, modelled on the B-Line, Richmond is expected to get a RapidBus route in 2021.
Details are scarce on what route the new Richmond rapid bus would take, but TransLink documents show the plan is to connect it to the Expo Line.
The new bus routes announced on Tuesday are part of the Mayors’ Vision to expand transit service in the Lower Mainland.
The five routes, labelled R1 to R5, are King George Boulevard running from Guildford Town Centre to Newton Exchange, Marine Drive from Park Royal to Phibbs Exchange, Lougheed Highway from Coquitlam Central Station to Haney Place, 41st Avenue from UBC to Joyce–Collingwood Station and Hastings from SFU to Burrard Station.
Once in service, the five routes will have the combined capacity to move 12,000 customers per hour during rush hour.
The buses will be predominantly green with some blue and the routes are expected to be up to 20 per cent faster than local bus service. The routes will have bus-only lanes, signal priority, queue-jumping at intersections, fewer stops and all-door boarding.
The bus stops will have real-time next-bus digital signage, real-time voice activated information, sheltered stops and large, articulated buses.
The five RapidBus routes will serve 11 communities. Two additional RapidBus routes are planned to launch in 2021 to Surrey, Delta and Richmond.
“Through the Mayors’ Vision, we committed to higher capacity transit bus service throughout the region,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “The B-Lines have served us well over many years, but we’ve taken the new RapidBus service to the next level. RapidBus will deliver a faster, more frequent service with new customer amenities.”
Five more routes are planned for phase three.
