A much talked about new, faster bus service for a busy Delta corridor is finally on the horizon.
TransLink, along with the cities of Delta and Surrey, have started construction on the new R6 Scott Road RapidBus, to serve the busiest bus corridor south of the Fraser River that has over 30,000 boardings each weekday.
In a news release Friday, TransLink noted the R6 service will be TransLink’s largest service expansion since 2020, keeping up with rapidly growing demand for transit in Surrey and Delta, which is now exceeding pre-pandemic ridership levels and experiencing Metro Vancouver’s strongest ridership growth.
Road improvements are now underway to deliver more dedicated bus lanes, upgraded bus stops and a new bus lot near Newton Exchange, it was noted in an announcement at the Newton Exchange.
The service will have articulated buses that will have more capacity and more bus priority lanes along the corridor.
Delta Mayor George Harvie, TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn, BC Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, Mayors’ Council Chair Brad West and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke described how the R6 will be a major improvement to help keep pace with growing demand and bring much-needed relief for Delta and Surrey commuters.
Scott Road is one of the most important transit corridors in Delta and the entire Lower Mainland, said Harvie.
In addition to RapidBus, the Scott Road corridor has been identified as a potential future corridor for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Transport 2050: Ten-Year Priorities, TransLink notes.
A report two years ago to Delta council from the city’s engineering department on TransLink’s development of Transport 2050 noted the city could be included in future rapid transit expansions.
In addition to Scott Road between 96 and 72 avenues being serviced by future rapid transit, TransLink has also identified a separate category of improved services as express/interregional that would link various Delta communities in Tsawwassen, Ladner and North Delta, the report noted. The linkages would likely include future service along sections of major corridors, such as Nordel Way and 64 Avenue in North Delta, Ladner Trunk Road in Ladner and 56 Street in Tsawwassen.
Connections along the major provincial highways, such as Highway 99, Highway 17, Highway 17A and Highway 91 are also envisioned.
The report added discussions with TransLink staff indicated that the express/interregional service frequency would be quite fast and frequent and envisioned to be in a separate transit lane.
Although the concept is still in development, TransLink indicated that it could be similar to RapidBus service.
