TransLink has announced RapidBus, a new limited-stop bus service coming soon to five regional routes, with the first ones launching in January 2020.
Building on the successful elements of the B-Line, the new service will be faster, more frequent, more convenient and more comfortable. Once in service, the five routes will have the combined capacity to move 12,000 customers per hour during rush hour.
“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.”
Customers will first notice the new look of the RapidBus vehicles. By making the buses predominantly green with some blue, customers can more easily pick them out from the rest of the fleet.
RapidBus routes will be up to 20% faster than local bus service thanks to priority measures including:
- Bus-only lanes
- Signal priority
- Queue jumps at intersections
- Fewer stops
- All-door boarding
RapidBus improves customer comfort and convenience too, with stops that feel more like stations. Customers can expect:
- Real-time next-bus digital signage
- Real-time voice activated information
- Sheltered stops
- Larger, articulated hybrid buses
You can catch your RapidBus at least every ten minutes during peak times.Route names include:
- R1: King George Boulevard (Guildford Town Centre to Newton Exchange) – upgraded 96 B-Line
- R2: Marine Drive (Park Royal to Phibbs Exchange)
- R3: Lougheed Highway (Coquitlam Central Station to Haney Place)
- R4: 41st Avenue (UBC to Joyce–Collingwood Station)
- R5: Hastings (SFU to Burrard Station) – upgraded 95 B-Line
This also means TransLink will be retiring the “B-Line” moniker except for Vancouver’s 99 B-Line up, which will not be retired until the opening of the Broadway Subway in 2025.
The five RapidBus routes will serve 11 communities. Two additional RapidBus routes are planned to launch in 2021 to Surrey, Delta and Richmond, with five more routes planned for Phase Three.
The funding is made possible through contributions from Phase One of the Mayors’ Vision, the Province of BC and the Government of Canada.
“RapidBus is an exciting step forward for Pitt Meadows, and an exciting step forward for the region,” said Mayor of Pitt Meadows Bill Dingwall. “This new service will provide residents with a fast, frequent and reliable way to get around. It is important transit investments like these that help us create more connected and livable communities.”
