| Translink (vancouver) |
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TransLink, officially known as the '''Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority''', is a transportation organization that services transportation needs of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) in British Columbia , Canada . TransLink was created in 1998 by the Government Of British Columbia to replace BC Transit in the GVRD, and take over many of the transportation responsibilities that previously were responsibilities of the provincial government. It is responsible for various modes of transportation in the Greater Vancouver Area . Some of these operations extend into the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD). TRANSIT Buses Buses are operated by two companies in Greater Vancouver. Coast Mountain Bus Company (a subsidiary of TransLink) operates regular transit buses—powered by diesel or natural gas—in most of the region's municipalities, as well as trolleybuses primarily within the City of Vancouver. The District Municipality of West Vancouver owns and operates the Blue Bus system serving West Vancouver and Lions Bay . The schedules, fares, and routes of both of these systems are integrated with the other transit systems by TransLink. Within the City of Vancouver, buses run on a grid system, with most trolleybus routes operating radially out of Downtown and along north-south arteries, and most diesel buses providing east-west crosstown service (with the University Of British Columbia (UBC) as their western terminus). Outside of the city boundaries, most buses operate on a hub-and-spoke system along feeder routes that connect with SkyTrain , SeaBus , or West Coast Express , or with express bus routes that travel directly to Downtown Vancouver or to other regional centres. Three high-capacity, high-frequency "B-Line" express routes use diesel Articulated Buses , rounding out the interregional backbone provided by SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express. (For more information, see 97 B-Line , 98 B-Line , or 99 B-Line .) The electric trolley buses operate on major routes in the city of Vancouver with one route extending to neighbouring Burnaby. Most trolley bus routes in Vancouver operate in a North-South direction. They get electricity from an extensive network of overhead wires. Beginning in the fall of 2006, TransLink will begin operating a new generation of electric Trolley Buses , replacing the existing models built in the early 1980s. The new trolley buses will have low floors, replacing the existing high-floor models, and be fully wheelchair-accessible. Many of the local routes are run with buses manufactured by New Flyer , a company based in Winnipeg, Canada. The longer suburban routes depend on Orion coaches with high-back seats and luggage racks. In addition, there are a few diesel-electric hybrid buses and natural-gas buses that are undergoing testing, with an additional order of natural-gas buses scheduled for delivery in mid-2006. See also: List Of Bus Routes In Greater Vancouver . SkyTrain Originally completed in 1985 as a transit showcase for Expo 86 , the SkyTrain automated light rail network has become an important transportation system. SkyTrain's Expo Line now operates from downtown Vancouver through southern Burnaby , New Westminster , and into Surrey . There was further expansion in the completion of the Millennium Line (opened in 2002), linking eastern New Westminster and northern Burnaby to Vancouver. The line was also expected to eventually branch north-east through Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam , but this proposal has since been replaced with plans for the Evergreen Line , a street-level Light Rail line. SkyTrain is operated by British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd., a subsidiary of TransLink. The Canada Line (formerly known as the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Line), currently being built, will run underground through the city and then along an elevated guideway on two branches, one to Richmond and one terminating at Vancouver International Airport ; it is not clear at this point whether it will bear the SkyTrain name, but it will use different trains. The new line will not share track or tunnels with the existing SkyTrain network, but it will connect with SkyTrain at Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver. Commuter rail West Coast Express is a Commuter Railway connecting Vancouver to communities of the GVRD and FVRD north of the Fraser River to Mission . It is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink. Ferries SeaBus is a passenger ferry service across the Burrard Inlet between Vancouver and North Vancouver that is operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and is integrated with the transit system. Albion Ferry is a free automobile ferry service between Langley and Maple Ridge across the Fraser River . Transit fares See Also: TransLink Fares (Vancouver) Below are the fare prices in Canadian Dollar s: Concession fares apply to children under 13, seniors, and high school students with a valid student identification card from a school in Greater Vancouver. Zone fares apply weekdays before 6:30 pm; during the evening and on weekends, passengers can travel throughout the system on a one-zone fare. Transit security Translink replaced in-house security operations with a full fledged police force in December 2005. The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service replaced the former TransLink Provincial Special Constables. The move was not without controversy, as many riders objected to armed officers patrolling the system. A recent case in which a woman was awarded $52,000 for allegedly being beaten by a flashlight-wielding officer confirmed such fears for some {Link without Title} . ROADS TransLink is also responsible for the major road network in the Lower Mainland. This is generally the major (non-highway) arteries that are used by those going from one municipality to another. This includes 2,200 lane km of roadways and the Knight Street Bridge , Pattullo Bridge , Westham Island Bridge and the future Golden Ears Bridge . In most cases the projects are initiated and overseen by the local municipality, and TransLink simply prioritizes and funds the projects. EMISSION CONTROL AirCare is a regionally mandated automobile emissions program and is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink. ACCESSIBILITY Though there have been improvements, Wheelchair - Accessibility remains a problem on parts of the system. Accessibility issues will become particularly important for the company with the hosting of the Paralympic Winter Games In 2010 . Consequently, Translink has undertaken the Access Transit Project with a final report due to the Translink board in mid 2006. Buses Currently, while most diesel buses on regular routes are accessible by specially designed lifts or Ramp s, some Bus Stop s are considered inaccessible if there is deemed to be insufficient room to deploy the lifts/ramps, and some trips on some routes are run as non-accessible for various reasons. Occasional equipment problems have been an issue as well. In addition, some wheelchair users have complained that drivers sometimes fail to board wheelchairs before other passengers, which results in difficulties boarding, turning, and parking in the designated wheelchair areas. Since there is only space for two wheelchairs on each accessible bus, and since the wheelchair area is also used for Walker s and Baby Stroller s, at busy times wheelchair users sometimes have to wait for several buses to go by before they can board. The introduction of the new Farebox es on all the buses also met with complaints from many wheelchair users, since their size and placement makes it difficult for users of certain types of chairs or Electric Scooter s to manoever around them. Currently, the entire fleet of electric , most of Downtown, and several major transit corridors, this means that entire areas are without accessible transit, and people with mobility problems must use Taxi s or HandyDART (see below) or go far out of their way as a result. SkyTrain While all SkyTrain vehicles are themselves accessible (each older Mark I car has one wheelchair designated spot, the newer Mark II cars have two), three SkyTrain stations are not fully accessible. Granville Station has no Elevator ; to reach the station, passengers with mobility problems must take a taxi from the nearest station. While Translink covers the cost of such trips, getting a Wheelchair-accessible Taxi can take up to ninety minutes. Fortunately, a new entrance with an elevator will be opening later in 2006. The other stations with accessibility issues are Columbia Station and Scott Road Station . Starting April 2006 , Sapperton Station will not be accessible due to construction of near-by residential building, which will close the station entrance ramp (but not the stairs) for twelve to fourteen months. Elevator problems have also been a concern, with work on elevators at some stations making them inaccessible for up to a month at a time. In addition, while many of the elevators at the new stations along the Millennium Line are bright and glass enclosed, some elevators at older stations are small, dark, and removed from main entrances and exits, giving rise to concerns for personal safety. HandyDART HandyDART is an additional system that provides transit to those who are unable to use the regular system due to mobility problems or a lack of accessible transit. HandyDART service is operated by seven different contractors in Greater Vancouver, which are generally not-for-profit corporations. HandyDART users must apply for a pass, and must also pay for each trip. While HandyDART is a great convenience to many users who would not otherwise be able to travel independently, the system also has its drawbacks. Each trip must be booked up to a week in advance, and sometimes no vehicle is available at the desired time. Each contractor operates regionally, meaning that it is not always possible to take HandyDART for the entire intended trip (for example, from Burnaby to Vancouver), but only part way. In addition, some riders have been refused permission to use the system as they have been deemed "too independent." TRANSLINK BOARD OF DIRECTORS The TransLink board is made up of 12 members appointed by the Greater Vancouver Regional District, representing the municipalities in the Greater Vancouver. The provincial government has the option of appointing three members to the board as well, but the appointees resigned in 2001, citing conflict of interest with their positions as members of the Legislative Assembly Of British Columbia . Since that time, the provincial government has declined to name any representatives to the board. The current members of the board, appointed on January 6, 2006, are:
The conflicting interests of the board members, whose primary responsibility is to the electors in their municipality, often causes problems. Most board members are from suburban municipalities, whereas the heaviest transit users are in the City of Vancouver. Citizens of all GVRD municipalities fund Translink through their property taxes, while citizens of the City of Vancouver, due higher population densities, enjoy many more transit routes as well as much more frequent transit service than citizens living outside the city. GALLERY: TRANSLINK BUS FLEET |
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