Given the positive feedback, TransLink has received Delta’s endorsement to move forward with
the detailed design for the new R6 Scott Road Rapid Bus Project.
Council, at its Dec. 13th meeting, gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the concept design in order for the transit authority to move on to the next step in the project.
Aimed at creating faster, more frequent and reliable bus service to the Scott Road corridor, the RapidBus route is projected to be in service by the end of 2023.
The service is to provide residents with service every 15 minutes or better, from 6 a.m. to midnight, every day of the week.
In November 2020, council endorsed the route alignment and stop selection for the project.
TransLink then prepared a concept design which was presented to council in a joint workshop with the City of Surrey this summer.
Public engagement on that concept design was conducted by TransLink this September.
A report to council notes that, overall TransLink indicated that there was strong support for the project, including Delta residents who provided feedback.
There was also strong support of the transit priority measures, which will help reduce travel time for buses along the Scott Road corridor.
TransLink also presented the project to Delta's Mobility and Accessibility Committee and received support, the report notes.
TransLink is currently developing a landscape plan for the corridor to identify opportunities for planting additional trees within the project area.
The report adds that Surrey and Delta had also undertaken a road safety audit for the Scott Road corridor to better inform the design and address safety concerns.
Recommendations from both of the landscape plan and safety audit will be incorporated in the detailed design phase.
RapidBus will follow the same route of the existing 319 service on Scott Road.
The 319 will remain as a local service, but with reduced frequency.
The transit authority notes the existing 319 bus service established itself as one of the key south of Fraser routes with continued growth over the last several years.
In 2019, it ranked as the seventh busiest route in the region with more than 7.4 million annual boardings.
It was noted at council that TransLink is making $20 million in capital investments for Scott Road.
On another front, Mayor George Harvie said he and Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Ken Baird will be meeting soon with TransLink officials about poor transit service in South Delta and at the TFN.
