RapidBus (TransLink)

RapidBus is an express bus network with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

RapidBus
Overview
SystemTransLink
OperatorCoast Mountain Bus Company
Began serviceJanuary 6, 2020[1]
Routes5
Stops63

    History

    On November 23, 2016, the Mayors' Council and TransLink's board of directors approved the first phase of the 10-Year Vision, which included provisions for new B-Line routes (later rebranded as RapidBus) which began service in January 2020.[2] In July 2019, TransLink announced that all future B-Line routes would officially be launched under new "RapidBus" branding and that the 95 and 96 B-Lines would also transition to that branding, leaving route 99 as the only remaining B-Line.[3] The first wave of routes using the RapidBus branding – consisting of the R1 King George Blvd (the former 96 B-Line), the new R3 Lougheed Hwy, the new R4 41st Ave (replacing the 43 express service along 41st Avenue), and the R5 Hastings St (the former 95 B-Line) – launched on January 6, 2020.[4][1] The R2 Marine Dr launched on April 6, 2020, after construction delays, replacing the former 239.[5]

    Features
    Bus stop with real-time arrival information near Waterfront station
    • All-door boarding
    • Shelters and benches at stops
    • Tactile pads
    • Real-time information
    • Information panels at stops
    • On-board route diagrams
    • Transit priority measures on streets to improve travel times
    • Custom exterior bus livery

    RapidBus routes

    Phase 1
    Route Launch date Termini Connections Stops
    R1 King George Blvd September 2, 2013 (as 96 B-Line) Guildford Exchange Newton Exchange
    • Newton Exchange
    • Surrey Central
    • King George
    • Guildford Exchange
    		 12
    R2 Marine Dr April 6, 2020[5] Park Royal Exchange Phibbs Exchange
    • Park Royal Shopping Centre
    • Lonsdale Quay
    • Phibbs Exchange
    		 10
    R3 Lougheed Hwy January 6, 2020 Coquitlam Central station Haney Place Exchange
    • Coquitlam Central
    • Haney Place
    		 8
    R4 41st Ave September 4, 2000 (as 43) UBC Exchange Joyce–Collingwood station
    • Joyce–Collingwood
    • Oakridge–41st Avenue
    • Dunbar Loop
    • UBC Exchange
    		 17
    R5 Hastings St December 19, 2016 (as 95 B-Line) Burrard station SFU Exchange
    • Burrard
    • Waterfront
    • Kootenay Loop
    • SFU Exchange
    		 16

    Future phases
    Route Launch date Termini Connections Stops
    R6 Scott Road Early 2024[6] Scott Road station Newton Exchange
    • Scott Road
    • Scottsdale Exchange
    • Newton Exchange
    		 13
    Lions Gate 2024 Stadium–Chinatown station Lynn Valley Centre
    • Stadium–Chinatown
    • Granville
    • Vancouver City Centre
    • Burrard
    • Lonsdale Quay
    Victoria Drive 2024 Downtown Harrison Loop
    • Commercial–Broadway
    White Rock 2024 Newton Exchange White Rock Centre
    • Newton Exchange
    • South Surrey Park and Ride
    • White Rock Centre
    Coquitlam to Langley 2024 Coquitlam Central station Langley Centre
    • Coquitlam Central
    • Maple Meadows
    • Carvolth Exchange
    • Langley Centre

    Bus rapid transit lines

    TransLink intends to implement bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the coming decade.[7] There are 9 BRT routes being planned but the line from Metrotown to Park Royal is the only one listed for immediate planning.[8]

    Cancelled RapidBus routes

    Fraser Highway

    Proposals for a Fraser Highway B-Line were made in 2018 along with what would become the Marine Drive, Lougheed Highway, and 41st Avenue RapidBus routes.[9] However, a decision was made in December of that year to cancel the proposed route (which would have been rebranded as RapidBus)[3] in favour of a revision of service on routes 502 and 503 in the short term, and an extension of the Expo Line from Surrey to Langley Centre in the long term.[10]

    R7 Richmond – Metrotown station

    This line was cancelled in October 2023 following the rejection of a proposed route by Richmond's city council. The R7 route would have roughly followed the existing 430 route via Bridgeport Road, the Knight Street Bridge, and 49th Avenue.[11]

    See also

    References
    1. "RapidBus is Coming!". YouTube. TransLink. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
    2. "Phase One of the 10-Year Vision Backgrounder" (PDF). tenyearvision.translink.ca. TransLink. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
    3. Saltman, Jennifer (July 24, 2019). "TransLink unveils new RapidBus service to replace B-Lines". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
    4. "RapidBus Program". translink.ca. TransLink. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
    5. "R2: Marine Dr". translink.ca. TransLink. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
    6. "R6 Scott Road RapidBus". TransLink.ca. TransLink. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
    7. Chan, Kenneth (April 20, 2022). "TransLink to double bus service, including 9 new Bus Rapid Transit lines | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
    8. "'There are trade-offs': Expect Metrotown–Park Royal bus rapid transit in next 3–5 years, says TransLink CEO". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
    9. "TransLink to add 4 new B-Line bus routes by end of 2019". CTV Vancouver. March 7, 2018. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
    10. "Mayor's Council On Regional Transportation Public Meeting Agenda Revised: December 11, 2018" (PDF). TransLink. December 13, 2018. p. 83. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
    11. Chan, Kenneth (October 16, 2023). "No BRT, no RapidBus: Richmond City Council rejects TransLink's proposed route to Metrotown". Daily Hive Vancouver. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
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