TransLink (Vancouver)

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South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority
Agency overview
Formed	January 1, 2008
Preceding Agency	Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (1999-2007)
Jurisdiction	Metro Vancouver
Headquarters	Burnaby, B.C.
Employees	5,100[1]
Annual Budget	$925 million for 2007[2]
Website
www.translink.bc.ca

TransLink (legally the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority) is the organization responsible for the regional transportation network of Metro Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, including public transport and major roads and bridges.

TransLink was created in 1998 (then called the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, or GVTA) and fully implemented in April 1999 by the Government of British Columbia to replace BC Transit in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) and assume many transportation responsibilities previously held by the provincial government. TransLink is responsible for various modes of transportation in the Metro Vancouver region. Some of its operations extend into the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD). On November 29, 2007, the province of British Columbia approved legislation changing the governance structure and official name of the organization.

[edit] Transit

Schedule booklets, with a booklet for each region (including a separate one for West Vancouver Blue Bus). The booklets cover buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus, community shuttles and West Coast Express.

[edit] Buses

Buses in Metro Vancouver are operated by two companies. 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 and trolley buses 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 these services are integrated with other transit services operated by TransLink.

Within the City of Vancouver, buses generally run on a grid system, with most trolley bus 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 city boundaries, most buses operate on a hub-and-spoke system along feeder routes that connect with SkyTrain, SeaBus, or West Coast Express, or on express bus routes that travel directly to Downtown Vancouver or other regional centres.

One of the new fleet of trolley buses introduced in 2006.

Three high-capacity, high-frequency B-Line express routes use diesel articulated buses, rounding out the regional public transportation backbone provided by SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express. (For more information, see 97 B-Line, 98 B-Line, or 99 B-Line.)

Electric trolley buses operate on major routes in the City of Vancouver, with one route extending to neighbouring Burnaby. Most trolley bus routes operate in a north-south direction. Trolley buses receive electricity from a network of overhead wires. In the fall of 2006, TransLink introduced a new generation of electric trolley buses, replacing the old models built in the early 1980s. The new trolley buses have low floors, replacing the old high-floor models, and are fully wheelchair-accessible.

Many local routes are serviced with buses manufactured by New Flyer, a company based in Winnipeg. Longer suburban routes use Orion coaches with high-back seats and luggage racks. In addition, TransLink is testing diesel-electric hybrid buses and natural-gas buses, with an additional order of natural-gas buses scheduled for delivery in mid-2006.

In late 2007, all TransLink buses became designated "fare paid zones." Under this system a rider is required to retain a proof of payment (transfer) while on board the bus and produce it upon request by a transit official ^[3]. On desginated routes the larger 3 door buses allow passengers to board through rear doors. As they are bypassing the driver and fare box they must have a previously paid fare in their possession. All other buses still require passengers to enter through the front door and display valid fare media to the driver. Carrying proper fare is now the responsibility of the rider. Fare inspections are conducted by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service and by Transit Security. Failure to produce proof of payment may result in ejection from the bus and a fine of $173.

TransLink also operates a late-night bus service, called NightBus, along a series of routes extending from downtown throughout the city and to several suburbs.

See also: List of bus routes in Greater Vancouver.

[edit] SkyTrain

Main article: SkyTrain (Vancouver)

Metrotown in Burnaby is a high traffic SkyTrain station.

Originally completed in 1985 as a transit showcase for Expo 86, the SkyTrain automated rapid transit system has become an important part of the region's transportation network. SkyTrain's Expo Line now operates from downtown Vancouver through southern Burnaby, New Westminster, and into Surrey. The Expo Line was further expanded upon completion of the Millennium Line in 2002, which links eastern New Westminster and northern Burnaby to Vancouver. The Millennium 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. 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 under construction, will run underground through Vancouver and then along an elevated guideway on two branches, one to Richmond and one terminating at Vancouver International Airport. Since it will not use linear induction motors or trains compatible with the existing SkyTrain network, it will not bear the SkyTrain brand name. The new line will not share track or tunnels with the existing SkyTrain network, but will permit transfers with SkyTrain at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver.

[edit] Commuter rail

West Coast Express is a commuter railway connecting downtown Vancouver to Metro Vancouver municipalities to the east and terminating in Mission in the FVRD, north of the Fraser River. It is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink.

[edit] Ferries

SeaBus is a passenger ferry service across Burrard Inlet between Vancouver and the North Shore municipalities that is operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and is integrated with the transit system. The Albion ferry is a free automobile ferry service between Langley Township and Maple Ridge across the Fraser River.

[edit] Transit fares

TransLink Fare Map

Main article: TransLink fares (Vancouver)

Below are the fare prices in Canadian Dollars effective January 1st, 2008:

Concession fares apply to children aged 5-13, seniors aged 65+, and high school students aged 14-19 with a valid student identification card from a school in Metro Vancouver (known as a GoCard). Children aged 4 and under ride for free. Zone fares apply weekdays before 6:30 pm; during evenings and on weekends, passengers can travel throughout the system on a one-zone fare. University students receive a U-Pass, which is included in student fees and is valid across all three zones.

Failure to pay the fare is an offence under the Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations. Persons found without a valid fare are served with a Provincial Violation Ticket of $173 ($150 statutory fine and $23 Victims Surcharge). Fare inspections are conducted by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service and Transit Security staff.

[edit] Transit police

TransLink replaced its Special Provincial Constables, which held limited policing power, with the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service (now the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service, or SCBCTAPS), in December of 2005. The move was not without controversy, as some riders objected to armed officers patrolling the system. A court case in which a woman was awarded $52,000 for allegedly being beaten by a flashlight-wielding officer, in an incident that occurred before the transition, confirmed such fears for some. ^[4] In contrast to the former TransLink special constables, SCBCTAPS constables have full police powers.

Coast Mountain Bus Company also has its own security department. Transit Security staff are mobile, ride buses and trains, and patrol TransLink properties. They work closely with the SCBCTAPS to ensure safety throughout the transit network. Transit Security are authorized to arrest persons committing criminal offences on or in relation to any TransLink property, as per the Criminal Code of Canada. Transit Security staff are also authorized to enforce Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations pursuant to the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act and to enforce the Transit Tariff.

On November 14, 2006, the Canadian government announced the approval of $37 million for improvements to transit security across Canada, including $9.8 million for the Vancouver area, although no details have been released as to how this money will be spent.^[5]

[edit] Livery

Shortly after its inception, the TransLink board of directors approved replacement of the old colours of BC Transit with TransLink's new blue and yellow colour scheme or livery. It also created brands for the body's different services, each with a different logo based on these colours, with the exception of the West Coast Express. The board decided against changing the West Coast Express's purple colour to blue, since purple and yellow create a premium brand differentiable from TransLink's blue and yellow livery. Repainting of vehicles did not incur any additional costs, as it was completed during regular maintenance repaints or new vehicle purchases. At the time of approval, TransLink estimated that it would take until the end of 2007 to convert the entire fleet to the new livery.

[edit] Roads

TransLink owns and maintains the Major Road Network, which comprises most major regional arteries not owned by the provincial government. It includes 2,200 lane-km of roadways and the Knight Street Bridge, Pattullo Bridge, Westham Island Bridge, and future Golden Ears Bridge. TransLink coordinates and funds major capital projects on the Major Road Network. For minor projects, TransLink contributes up to half of the costs of municipal capital projects, up to the maximum funding allocated to each municipality.

[edit] Transit-related improvements

TransLink allocates funding to each municipality for transit improvements, such as transit priority signals, queue-jumping lanes for buses, and bus lanes. TransLink contributes up to half of the costs of municipal capital projects, up to the maximum funding allocated to each municipality.

[edit] Cycling

TransLink employs several Engineers and Planners who administer various aspects of the bicycle program. TransLink has a good working relationship with it's many cycling stakeholders, such as the VACC (Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition).

TransLink invests $6m in cycling each year (as at 2007) this money is spread across the various capital and operating projects, some in cost sharing programs which result in even more investment in cycling each year.

A growing network of cycling paths exists throughout Metro Vancouver. TransLink allocates funding to each municipality for cycling improvements, such as bike paths, through a cost-sharing program known as the Bicycle Infrastructure Capital Cost Sharing Program (BICCS). TransLink contributes up to half of the costs of municipal capital projects, up to the maximum funding allocated to each municipality.

Cities are eligible to apply for a share of the available funding each year. Most of the funding is allocated this way whilst some funding is available in a competitive process called Regional Needs. The funding process is overseen by the Bicycle Working Group which comprises municipal bicycle representatives.

TransLink also produces a regional cycling map which is available for sale or for free as a pdf on its website. Many municipalities also produce their own local cycling maps which vary in style and are distributed free of charge.

TransLink also supports many cycling related community initiatives and events, particularly, Bike Month every June.

All modes of transit in Vancouver carry bicycles. Most buses operated by TransLink have bike racks supplied by SportWorks, the whole bus fleet will eventually have bike racks. (Old trolley buses cannot support a bike rack but these vehicles will be removed from service in the future). Bikes are allowed on the SeaBus. Bikes are also allowed on SkyTrain, except during weekday rush hours in the peak direction of travel in zone 1 (inbound to Vancouver in the morning rush hour and outbound from Vancouver in the evening rush hour).

During 2007, many "New Flyer" buses were unable to carry bikes after dark as the bike rack design was incompatible with the placement of the headlights on the new buses. After a winter of inconvenience, the bike racks were redesigned to hold the bikes in a new position and refitted to all new buses by March 2008.

TransLink also installs and maintains bicycle parking racks and lockers at SkyTrain stations and Transit interchanges through private contractors.

[edit] Emission control

AirCare is a regionally-mandated automobile emissions program and is operated by a subsidiary of TransLink. TransLink plans to phase out the program by 2011.

[edit] Accessibility

Although improvements have been made, 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. Because of this, TransLink initiated the Access Transit Project, whose final report was completed in June 2007.

[edit] Buses

While most diesel buses are accessible by specially-designed lifts or ramps, some stops are considered inaccessible if there is deemed to be insufficient room to deploy the lifts/ramps, and some trips on some routes are 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. There is only space for two wheelchairs on each accessible bus, and the wheelchair area is also used for walkers and baby strollers, however passengers in wheelchairs have highest priority for these positions and lower priority users (such as strollers) are required to vacate the space as needed. Unfortunately, with the transit system in such high demand, wheelchair users sometimes have to wait for several buses to go by before they can board on popular routes during peak periods.

New fareboxes introduced on all buses have been the subject of complaints from many wheelchair users, since their size and placement makes it difficult for users of certain types of chairs or electric scooters to manoeuvre around them.

In August of 2006, TransLink began replacing its entire fleet of inaccessible electric trolley buses with low-floor trolley buses, 188 standard 12.2 m (40-foot) vehicles. In mid-2008, it will introduce 40 articulated 18.3 m (60-foot) buses. These buses will provide accessible service to the West End, most of downtown, and several major transit corridors formerly serviced by trolleys without wheelchair ramps or kneeling features.

[edit] SkyTrain

While all SkyTrain vehicles are accessible (each older Mark I car has one wheelchair-designated spot, and newer Mark II cars have two), three SkyTrain stations are not fully accessible. The stations with accessibility issues are Columbia Station and Scott Road Station. Beginning in April 2006, Sapperton Station is not accessible due to construction of a nearby residential building, which will close the station entrance ramp (but not the stairs) for 12 to 14 months.

Elevator problems have also been a concern, with work on elevators at some stations rendering 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 enclosed by glass, some elevators at older stations are small, dark, and removed from main entrances and exits, giving rise to concerns about personal safety.

[edit] HandyDART

HandyDART is a supplementary system that provides transportation service 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 throughout Metro Vancouver, which are generally not-for-profit corporations.

HandyDART users apply for a pass and pay for each trip. Each trip must be pre-booked, up to one week in advance, and is subject to availability at the desired time. Each contractor operates regionally, meaning that it is not always possible to use HandyDART for an entire trip (for example, from Burnaby to Vancouver). In addition, some riders have been refused permission to use the system as they have been deemed "too independent."

[edit] Governance

[edit] The Mayors’ Council

The Mayors’ Council is composed of the 21 mayors of Metro Vancouver municipalities, who represent the interests of citizens of the region. The Mayors’ Council appoints the Board of Directors for TransLink and the Commissioner. It approves plans prepared by TransLink, including the transportation plan, regional funding, and borrowing limits.

[edit] TransLink Board of Directors

The TransLink board is made up of individuals selected based on their skills and expertise, who must act in the best interests of TransLink. They do not represent any other interests or constituencies. They are responsible for hiring, compensating and monitoring the performance of the CEO and for providing oversight of TransLink’s strategic planning, finances, major capital projects, and operations.

The members are in three groups, with three, two, and one-year terms. The members are:

[edit] Chief Executive Officer

The CEO runs TransLink, as directed by the board, and is responsible for preparing plans and reports for approval by the board and for building and operating TransLink’s transportation services in line with its annual and long-term plans.

[edit] Regional Transportation Commissioner

The Commissioner must approve all cash fare increases greater than the rate of inflation. The Commissioner also approves TransLink’s plans for annual customer satisfaction surveys, its customer complaint process, and any proposed sale of major assets. The Regional Transportation Commissioner operates separately from the Mayors' Council, the TransLink Board of Directors, and TransLink staff.

[edit] 2007 reorganization

On March 8, 2007, BC Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon announced a restructuring of TransLink. Major changes include new revenue-generating measures, a restructuring of the executive of the body, and increases in the areas under TransLink's jurisdiction.^[7][8]

The reorganization of TransLink proposed the following changes^[8]:

• TransLink will have the authority to generate revenue by controlling development of land near and around transit stations, including overriding municipal land-use planning.
• The old board will be replaced by a Council of Mayors from the municipalities in the area served by TransLink, a board of non-political experts appointed by the provincial government, and an Independent Commissioner of TransLink appointed by the Council of Mayors.
• The Provincial Government will set the regional transportation vision.
• The Board will guide the operation of TransLink as per the 3- and 10-year transportation plans. It will also develop the options for 3- and 10-year plans; one option will be a base option which maintains the status quo.
• The Council of Mayors will vote on which 3- and 10-year transportation plan options to adopt. Mayors will receive one vote per 20,000 people, or portion thereof, in their jurisdiction.
• The TransLink Independent Commissioner will ensure that TransLink's 3- and 10-year transportation plans are consistent with the regional transportation vision set by the Provincial Government.
• TransLink's jurisduction is initially planned to be expanded to include Mission, Abbotsford, and Squamish. In the long term, this may be further expanded to include the area along the Sea-to-Sky Highway as far north as Pemberton and east into the Fraser Valley to Hope.
• TransLink will be funded using an approximate ratio of 1/3 of revenue from fuel taxes, 1/3 of revenue from property taxes, and 1/3 of revenue from other non-government sources (e.g., fares, advertising, property development).
• TransLink will hold the power to increase funding from fuel tax from 12 cents per litre^[9] to 15 cents per litre.
• TransLink will increase funding by raising property taxes, parking sales taxes, and other sources of revenue (e.g., fares, property development).
• TransLink will eliminate the parking tax (different from parking sales tax) and the BC Hydro transportation levy.
• AirCare will be removed from TransLink's authority and will become the responsibility of Metro Vancouver.
• The Provincial Government will continue to contribute toward rapid transit projects, but funding will be contingent on municipalities increasing population densities around planned rapid transit stations.

Falcon had previously called the old board "dysfunctional"^[8], saying that board members were focused on the interests of their own municipalities instead of the broader interests of the region.^[10] According to Falcon, the board of directors had "no ability there to develop the skill-set to understand major, multi-billion projects."^[10] New Democratic Party of British Columbia critic David Chudnovsky responded, saying that the reorganization was "ludicrous" and that its purpose was "to get power away from our elected municipal politicians because once in a while they disagree with the aggressive privatization agenda of Mr. Falcon".^[8] Chudnovsky was also worried about the consequences of a property development slowdown.

On April 26, 2007, legislation was introduced by the British Columbia provincial government to restructure TransLink. The proposed successor body was to be known as the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority.^[11] The legislation received Royal Assent on November 29, 2007 and came into effect on January 1, 2008, with some parts of the organization, like the Council of Mayors, beginning functions the day after the legislation was approved.^[12][13]

On March 19, 2008, the Vancouver Sun reported that TransLink is launching a real estate division that may produce over $1.5 billion in revenue over the next 10 years. ^[14]

NDP critic Maurine Karagianis introduced a private member`s bill dubbed the "TransLink openness act"[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ 2006 Annual Report
2. ^ Translink (2008). About us (English). Translink. Retrieved on January 13, 2008.
3. ^ TransLink - South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority
4. ^ 24 Hours Vancouver - News: Court rules in favour of victim
5. ^ Transit systems get $37M to boost security
6. ^ "Pay hikes for TransLink board", Vancouver Province, 2008-02-10, p. A3. 
7. ^ "Translink Governance Review". 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} "Major TransLink overhaul coming", CBC. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
9. ^ MFT 005 - Tax Rates on Motor Fuels
10. ^ ^{a b} "TransLink shake-up in the works", CBC. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
11. ^ New transit authority 'assault on democracy': Louie. Vancouver Province. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
12. ^ BC legislature wraps up fall session. "Canadian Broadcasting Corporation". Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
13. ^ Mayors' Council meets - TransLink’s governance transition begins. "TransLink". Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
14. ^ Translink's $1.5B real estate empire

[edit] External links

• TransLink home page
• Westham Bridge
• Vancouver Bridges
• 10-Year Master Plan (pdf)
• Vancouver Transit Map in Google
• Transit History in Vancouver