It’s going to take awhile to see if any of the extra $300 million in cash splashed out to TransLink last week will be doled out to Delta commuters.
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming announced April 17 the new money to improve service and to solve the most pressing problems, “in response to the unprecedented regional growth.”
But some statistics have to be studied before any decisions are made on upgrading bus routes, said TransLink spokesperson Dan Mountain.
“The 60 overcrowded routes receiving increased frequencies haven’t been determined yet, as spring ridership data will factor into the decision,” Mountain said by email.
However, enhanced, late-evening HandyDART service will help Delta residents. The money also will be used for roads, improving sidewalks, and cycling paths and new “bus-priority” infrastructure.
Last year, TransLink spent $2.6 million on five upgrades of roads, pathways and cycling routes in Delta.
New improvements for Delta from TransLink’s 2024 Investment Plan will be named in the next few months.
While specifics are not yet announced, the transportation improvements for Metro Vancouver covered by the investment plan include increasing service on 60 overcrowded routes, extending evening hours on 11 bus routes, adding more buses to prepare for Bus Rapid Transit, where buses have their own lanes, and increasing Canada Line SkyTrain frequencies.
TransLink’s Mayors Council on Regional Transportation chair Brad West said the investment plan is a short-term plan to address over crowding.
“At a time when Metro Vancouver is facing record-setting population growth, due to federal immigration policy, we need a transit system that keeps up,” said West.
He said there is a long lead time before the federal Permanent Transit Fund is available.
TransLink’s projects last year in Delta include:
96th Avenue protected bike lanes (114th Street to 120th Street), $465,000
River Road protected cycle lanes (72nd Street - 76th Street), $936,000
72nd Avenue roadway improvements (115th Street - 120th Street) $1,003,000
Eaton Way sidewalk (Cliveden Ave to Derwent Way), $60,000
72nd Avenue BNR overpass seismic retrofit design, $156,250
