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Due to an ongoing police incident on Hastings in the Downtown East Side, bus service is being diverted for the time being.

#135/#160 is routing via Powell (westbound) as far as Main and then back to Hastings.  Eastbound, they’re going along Cordova as far as Clark.

Trolley buses — #10, #16 and #20 are going westbound via Commercial and Powell to Main Street, then up to Pender.
Eastbound trolleys are turning down Seymour to Cordova and then along Cordova to Commecial and back to Hastings.

This means bus stops are closed temporarily on Hastings westbound between Heatley and Main, and eastbound between Clark and Main.

The #135 and #160 will do local service on the portions of Hastings where the trolleys can’t go.

No word on how long this incident will take to clear.

Hello all,

I’m sure you all have heard on the news yesterday that the tolls for the Golden Ears Bridge went up.  For cars an extra 5 cents, and for unregistered trucks up to 15 cents.

More change is on the way for traffic on Highway One on Monday from Langley to Vancouver’s Grandview Highway. Now, we have all seen the construction in different areas of the Trans Canada of late, and the changes in the HOV lane hours. Well, now you will really have to pay attention to the new posted speed limits in certain parts. In some areas we’ll see the speed limit go from the normal 100km/hour to 80km/hour. Even more of a drastic change through the Grandview Highway area as the maximum speed as of Monday will be down to 70km/km.

Obviously these areas will be heavily patrolled and violators will be heavily fined too. If you’re caught speeding the maximum fine is well over $400.00. 

These reduced speed limits are put in place for a reason, for your safety as well as for those who are working in those areas. Anything can happen in construction zones, you need to have full control of your vehicle at all times and be able to stop at a moments notice.  Please PLEASE slow down, and drive cautiously at all times, but especially in construction zones.

Have a great and safe weekend,

M

If you do have plans to take in the Lions game tomorrow night, here a way you can travel smarter, with Translink…

In order to encourage football fans to continue to TravelSmart to BC Lions’ games, TransLink and its operating subsidiaries, Coast Mountain Bus Company and BC Rapid Transit Company, are increasing the amount of Game Day service directly to and from Empire Fields. 

Most fans will likely use the combination of SkyTrain and “Football Special” buses, taking SkyTrain to either 29^th Ave or Renfrew SkyTrain Stations and transferring to the shuttle buses.  These shuttles will begin operating approximately three hours before kickoff, more articulated buses will be in service; some will leave from Renfrew only, to reduce the chances of passups.  

A standard-sized bus will also run shuttles between Phibbs Exchange and Empire Field, supplementing service on the #28 Joyce Stn/Phibbs Exchange, and an additional bus will be added to the #135 SFU/Burrard Station and the #160 PoCo Stn/Burrard Station.

The experience of the first two Lions’ home games in their new “den” has shown that a surge of customers started arriving about 90 minutes before game time.  For Friday’s 7pm start, one might want to plan to arrive at the SkyTrain stations around 5, to help spread out the crowds. 

After the game, SkyTrain will increase the frequency of Expo and Millennium Line trains after the game, to minimize waiting time and avoid crowding, and will add additional trains if necessary.  More shuttle buses will be available and will be lined up on Hastings Street westbound, just east of the regular bus stop at Hastings and Windermere.  To facilitate boarding, three-door-boarding will be in effect.  Customers must remember that all TransLink buses are Fare Paid Zones, and must show a valid proof of payment on request.  

In order to make bus loading more efficient for the trip home, portable fareboxes will be set up to sell return tickets prior to the game at King George Station, 29^th Ave. Station and Renfrew Station  These tickets will be valid until end of the service day.   Customers will need exact cash fare (coins or bills or both); bus fareboxes accept exact fare in coins only.  (Single cash fares are $2.50 for adults; $1.75 for seniors, children, and students with a valid GoCard.)

TravelSmart can help fans make an end run around the traffic rush and spend more time roaring with the Lions.  If public transit is not the best option for you, consider Ride-Sharing.  Fans can log onto http://ride-share.com and match up with other football fans to team up on costs and camaraderie.

So there you go,  leave the car at home!

Enjoy!

M

If  you are, then there are some websites you need to know about to make sure you get where you’re going on time, and safely.

If you are planning on travelling using the BC Ferries here is their website with a lot of helpful information. www.beferries.com . Make reservations if you are heading out on a Friday to stay over for the weekend. The Ferries are extremely busy during the summer months, but even more so over the weekends understandably. Get to the terminals nice and early to leave enough time to navigate around or sit in line-ups.  It’s always great to check the “current conditions” page on the BC Ferries website to see how full your boat is, and if there are any delays on your route before you leave the house.

Are you driving into the interior for some time away with the family? Summertime is FAMOUS for construction. Not just in the Lower mainland, but throughout the province, and on some pretty major routes too. Who wants to be sitting in 2 hour traffic line-up with 3 screaming kids “are we there yet?” in the back seat?? All preventable. Familiarize yourself with the Drive BC website.  www.drivebc.ca. Forest fires are always a concern in the summer months; could your route be disturbed? What are the reroutes? You can find out all of this information on this website by clicking on “Major Events”.  You can also click on their selection of web cameras to see exactly what your route looks like. Very helpful during the winter to see how snow covered your route is.

That should get you started! I will be posting more “must have” links over the next few weeks to get you through your summer travel plans. Stay tuned!

Have fun, drive safe!

M

Hello all!!

It looks like summer has finally decided to make an appearance, and you know what that means…

We’ll obviously see an increase in construction zones on our major routes bringing volume delays. We will also see a lot more motorcycles out on the roads as well.  Please make sure to check your blind spots before you change lanes, and make turns. Make sure to allow lots of space between you and the motorcyclist to allow for any last minute maneuvers.  Never assume that the motorcyclist knows you are there. Be cautious.

Watch for cyclists as well on the major routes and downtown areas.  Always make sure when driving routes with bike lanes that the way is clear before making turns, or taking corners.

With the nice weather coming, our ditches and grassy areas on the side of our roads will become dry. PLEASE, if you smoke, keep your butts inside your vehicle. Do not discard your cigarette butts out your window. Every summer our emergency crews respond to brush fires because of careless commuters. Not only does it put a strain on our emergency responders, and endanger surrounding structures, but it can also tie up traffic for hours.

Just be considerate, and enjoy, but most of all play safe!

See you tomorrow!

M

Yes its true.  Summer hasn’t even officially arrived yet, but the roadwork on our major routes sure has.

Here are a couple of areas that you need to be aware of…

Hastings Street in Vancouver between Cassiar and Boundary Road, expect slow downs throughout the summer into September.

Capilano Road in North Vancouver south bound at Fullerton south of Garden. Traffic is down to single lanes for construction. Use Garden to get you down to Marine Drive as an alternative. 

Construction will continue of course along Highway One from Langley right through to Vancouver for ongoing upgrades and construction for the new Port Mann Bridge.

This is just a small taste  of what we can expect over the next few months. Keep checking in here for more construction updates throughout the summer and into the fall.  Plan ahead!!

Have a great weekend!

M

Due to the APTA (American Public Transit Association) International Rail Rodeo this weekend at VCC-Clark Station, there will be some service changes taking effect Tuesday June 1.

• From June 1 through Sunday June 6, the #84 VCC-Clark will not go into the bus loop at VCC-Clark Station, but will use temporary stops on East 6^th Ave. as far as Keith Drive.  It will then continue to Commercial-Broadway Station and turn around for its return trip.  Customers planning to transfer to SkyTrain may stay on the bus to Commercial-Broadway (although VCC-Clark will be open June 1-3 inclusive).

• On Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5, VCC-Clark Station and the adjacent bus loop will be closed for training, practice and the rodeo itself.
• On those days, SkyTrain customers who normally would board at VCC-Clark should go to Broadway and take the #9 bus eastbound to Commercial-Broadway Station (or the 99 B-Line, which stops at Broadway and Clark Drive.
• VCC-Clark Station will be back open on Sunday June 6; normal service on the #84 VCC-Clark/UBC will resume Monday June 7.

 plan around it, and allow yourself extra time!

M

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all had a great long weekend!

Some changes are coming to Dunsmuir between Beatty & Hornby. The new bike lane on the Dunsmuir Viaduct will be extended along Dunsmuir to Hornby, this will have an effect on Transit in the area. Here are the details direct from Translink Spokesperson Drew Snider.

Bus service changes: Dunsmuir Street

Due to the construction soon to begin on the dedicated bicycle lane on Dunsmuir Street, bus stops on Dunsmuir east of Howe Street will be taken out of service.

As of Monday, May 24, the following changes will take effect:

·         The #210 Upper Lynn Valley, #211 Seymour/Phibbs Exchange, the #4 Phibbs Exchange/Downtown (after 8pm) and #214 Blueridge/Phibbs Exchange will come into Vancouver along Pender as far as Howe, then turn up Howe and then on Dunsmuir to the terminus at Burrard Station.

·         The N24 Upper Lonsdale NightBus will travel along Georgia to Seymour, then down Seymour to Pender, along Pender to Howe and up to the NightBus terminus at Howe and Dunsmuir.  Customers should note that this is a new terminus for the N24.

·         The N8 Fraser NightBus will move from Bay 3 at Howe and Dunsmuir to Bay 1.

Signs will be posted, notifying customers of the discontinued stops.

There you have it! Should be interesting!

Talk to you later,

M

Hello All,

Long weekend plans? Well if you are heading out for a long road trip, or jumping on a BC Ferry, here are some websites you’ll want to check out before you hit the road.

If you are planning on taking the BC Ferries you’ll want to consider making a reservation to make sure you catch your boat.  Before you leave the house check www.bcferries.ca to see just how full your boat is, and make sure there are no delays or mechanical problems on your route. Once you are on the site, click on “current conditions” to view capacities, and even ferry terminal web cameras.

Are you “border bound”?  Get out the door nice and early as those line ups back up quickly.  Peace Arch, Pacific Highway Truck Crossing (176 St.), and Huntingdon/Sumas see traffic first thing. Aldergrove opens its gates at 8am, and a lot of people like to line up prior to the opening to secure an early crossing…so again, get there early! Some websites to help you out with wait times.  www.borderlineups.com

Or http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS/index.htm.

Please keep in mind though that the times displayed on these websites are approximate wait times, you could be faced with longer waits by the time you get there.

If you are hitting the road for a trip into the interior and you want to make sure your way is clear. Always check with www.drivebc.ca to make sure there are no accidents, or construction delays on your route.  Check out this website to view your route, and check out highway conditions with your own eyes. http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index.html

Enjoy your long weekend, and drive safely.

Michel

Hi there!

Yes, starting to look and feel a lot like summer these days.  So a reminder needs to go out again to smokers. With the dryer conditions we’re experiencing throwing your cigarette butts out of your car can have devastating consequences. Every year we see road side brush fires from discarded cigarettes from vehicles, halting traffic, and threatening near by structures and property. If you have to smoke and drive, PLEASE butt out your cigarettes in your car.  To be honest, this is something we should be doing YEAR round…not just in the dry summer weather.

Also with this nice weather, be on the lookout for motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians.  Always check your blind spots, especially when changing lanes and making turns in busy areas.

Play safe, and enjoy the weather!

M