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Given the significant financial challenges facing the regional transportation authority,
TransLink and its operating companies today announced the following cost-saving
measures:
“This has been an incredibly tough decision and one we do not take lightly,” says
TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “We’ve done our best to try and reduce costs through
other means, but TransLink is losing $75 million per month, and we’re left with no other
options. It’s not lost on me what an impact this decision will have on the lives of our
employees and their families. I fully expect those affected will be recalled once
TransLink returns to regular operations, which we are now planning for back-to-school in
September, if consistent with provincial guidelines.”
TransLink and the Province of BC have been working closely to ensure that funding is
available to allow TransLink to reverse layoffs and return to near-regular operations in
time for back-to-school in September. TransLink and the Province are also working on a
plan to address the longer-term fiscal sustainability of TransLink in order to ensure the
transportation authority can continue delivering transit services and key projects in 2021
and beyond.
TransLink’s revenue has declined since mid-March due to reduced ridership levels,
falling fuel tax revenue, and fare removal on the bus system to promote physical
distancing. Since the beginning of the pandemic, TransLink has:
• Reduced Bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express services.
• Reduced the seating capacity on buses to promote physical distancing.
• Introduced rear-door only boarding and suspended fare collection on buses to
protect bus operators.
• Introduced widespread and intensive cleaning and sanitization measures on bus,
HandyDART, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express.
• Deferred the scheduled July 1, 2020 fare increase.
SkyTrain Service
• Beginning Wednesday (April 22), Expo and Millennium Line capacity will be
further reduced.
o Expo Line capacity will be reduced by 20% during peak hours. During
middays, early evenings, and weekends, capacity will be reduced by 20%
to 40%, depending on the time of day.
▪ These capacity reductions are in addition to a 17% reduction
during peak hours and a 20% reduction on Friday and Saturday
evenings, which were implemented last month.
o Millennium Line capacity will be reduced by 15% during peak hours.
During middays, early evenings, and weekends, capacity will be reduced
by 20% to 40%, depending on the time of day.
▪ These capacity reductions are in addition to a 17% reduction
during peak hours and a 20% reduction on Friday and Saturday
evenings, which were implemented last month.
• Canada Line capacity has been reduced by 18% during peak hours.
Bus Service
• Beginning Friday (April 24), 18 bus routes will be suspended.
o Suspended routes: 15, 32, 50, 68, 105, 131, 132, 143, 222, 480, 414, R3.
▪ Most of these routes have other transit as alternatives
o Suspended NightBus routes: N8, N15, N17, N22, N24, N35.
• Beginning in early May, we expect another 47 routes will be suspended, and
frequency reduced on many remaining routes.
o Expected route suspensions: 251, 252, 262, 280, 281, 282, 370, 563,
564, 044, 170, 181, 182, 231, 241, 247, 258, 345, 352, 354, 391, 393,
394, 395, 416, 509, 602, 603, 604, 606, 608, 614, 616, 617, 618, 619,
719, 722, 733, 741, 744, 748, 749, 791, 042, 150, 179.
o Precise timing for these suspensions and reductions will be released in
due course.
• TransLink is prioritizing service to routes serving hospitals and other health
facilities.
• Routes selected for suspension either duplicate other routes or are in low
ridership areas.
• The number of people TransLink can move on buses was reduced to around
30% of normal levels due to physical distancing measures. Once all planned
service reductions are implemented, the number of people TransLink can move
will decrease further, to around 20% of normal levels.
SeaBus Service
• Beginning Wednesday (April 22), SeaBus will end service earlier.
o The last SeaBus sailing of the day will happen at 7:30 p.m. from Lonsdale
Quay and 7:45 p.m. from Waterfront.
• SeaBus will continue sailings every 30-minutes.
Customers are also asked to only travel on transit if necessary, so space is available for
essential service workers.
Media contact:
TransLink Media Relations
E: media@translink.ca