:RapidBus (TransLink)
{{Short description|Express bus network in Metro Vancouver, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
|logo =
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|name = RapidBus
|color =
|number =
|image = TransLink Rapidbus 19018 Commissioning.jpg
|caption =
|system = TransLink
|routes = 6
|stops = 75
|length =
|close =
|operator = Coast Mountain Bus Company
|character =
|stock =
|linelength =
|ridership =
|el =
|map = {{maplink-road|from=RapidBus (TransLink).map}} RapidBus highlighted in green
|map_state = uncollapsed
|notes =
}}
RapidBus is an express bus network with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
History
On November 23, 2016, the Mayors' Council and TransLink's board of directors approved the first phase of the 10-Year Vision, which included provisions for new B-Line routes (later rebranded as RapidBus) which began service in January 2020.{{cite web |title=Phase One of the 10-Year Vision Backgrounder |url=http://tenyearvision.translink.ca/downloads/Phase%20One%20Summary.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201183332/https://tenyearvision.translink.ca/downloads/Phase%20One%20Summary.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |access-date=March 21, 2017 |website=tenyearvision.translink.ca |publisher=TransLink}} In July 2019, TransLink announced that all future B-Line routes would officially be launched under new "RapidBus" branding and that the 95 and 96 B-Lines would also transition to that branding, leaving route 99 as the only remaining B-Line.{{Cite web |last=Saltman |first=Jennifer |date=July 24, 2019 |title=TransLink unveils new RapidBus service to replace B-Lines |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/translink-unveils-new-rapidbus-service-to-replace-b-lines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630092725/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/translink-unveils-new-rapidbus-service-to-replace-b-lines |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=The Vancouver Sun}}
The first wave of routes using the RapidBus branding{{snd}}consisting of the R1 King George Blvd (the former 96 B-Line), the new R3 Lougheed Hwy, the new R4 41st Ave (replacing the 43 express service along 41st Avenue), and the R5 Hastings St (the former 95 B-Line){{snd}}launched on January 6, 2020.{{Cite web |title=RapidBus Program |url=https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724010113/https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program.aspx |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=translink.ca |publisher=TransLink}}{{Cite web |title=RapidBus is Coming! |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=sQkPUATu61k |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914231702/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQkPUATu61k |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=YouTube| date=July 23, 2019 |publisher=TransLink |url-status=live}}
The R2 Marine Drive launched on April 6, 2020, after construction delays, replacing the former 239.{{Cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program/R2-Marine-Dr.aspx |title=R2: Marine Dr |website=translink.ca |publisher=TransLink |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-date=February 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208035359/https://www.translink.ca/Plans-and-Projects/RapidBus-Program/R2-Marine-Dr.aspx |url-status=live}} The R6 Scott Rd launched on January 2, 2024, for service in Surrey and Delta.{{Cite web | title=TransLink unveils new RapidBus service for Surrey and Delta |work=CBC News | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-unveils-new-r6-rapidbus-in-surrey-1.7072835 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102233727/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-unveils-new-r6-rapidbus-in-surrey-1.7072835 | access-date=February 16, 2025 | archive-date=January 2, 2024}}
Features
File:Bus stop near Waterfront station, Vancouver (20200613 143940).jpg]]
- All-door boarding
- Shelters and benches at stops
- Tactile pads
- Real-time information
- Information panels at stops
- On-board route diagrams
- Transit priority measures on streets to improve travel times
- Custom exterior bus livery
- Frequent service
RapidBus routes
=Phase 1=
| class="wikitable"
|+ |
| Route
! Launch date ! colspan="2" | Termini ! Connections ! Stops |
|---|
| R1 King George Blvd
| September 2, 2013 (as 96 B-Line) | {{plainlist|
}} | 12 |
| R2 Marine Dr
| {{plainlist|
}} | 10 |
| R3 Lougheed Hwy
| January 6, 2020 | {{plainlist|
}} | 8 |
| R4 41st Ave
| September 4, 2000 (as 43 Express) | {{plainlist|
}} | 17 |
| R5 Hastings St
| December 19, 2016 (as 95 B-Line) | {{plainlist|
}} | 16 |
=Phase 2=
| class="wikitable"
|+ |
| Route
! Launch date ! colspan="2" | Termini ! Connections ! Stops |
|---|
| R6 Scott Rd
| {{plainlist|
}} |13 |
=Future phases=
| class="wikitable"
|+ |
| Route
! Launch date ! colspan="2" | Termini ! Connections ! Stops |
|---|
| Lions Gate
| TBD | {{plainlist|
}} | |
| Victoria Drive
| TBD | Downtown | Harrison Loop | {{plainlist|
}} | |
| White Rock
| TBD | {{plainlist|
}} | |
| Coquitlam to Langley
| TBD | {{plainlist|
}} | |
| R2 Extension to Metrotown{{cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/plans-and-projects/projects/bus-projects/rapidbus-projects#r2-extension-to-metrotown |title=RapidBus Projects {{!}} R2 Extension to Metrotown|publisher=TransLink |website=translink.ca |access-date=September 19, 2024}}
|TBD |{{Plainlist|
}} | |
Cancelled RapidBus routes
= Fraser Highway =
Proposals for a Fraser Highway B-Line were made in 2018 along with what would become the Marine Drive, Lougheed Highway, and 41st Avenue RapidBus routes.{{Cite web |date=March 7, 2018 |title=TransLink to add 4 new B-Line bus routes by end of 2019 |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/translink-to-add-4-new-b-line-bus-routes-by-end-of-2019-1.3831537 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307014857/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/translink-to-add-4-new-b-line-bus-routes-by-end-of-2019-1.3831537 |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=CTV Vancouver}} However, a decision was made in December of that year to cancel the proposed route (which would have been rebranded as RapidBus) in favour of a revision of service on routes 502 and 503 in the short term, and an extension of the Expo Line from Surrey to Langley Centre in the long term.{{cite web |date=December 13, 2018 |title=Mayor's Council On Regional Transportation Public Meeting Agenda Revised: December 11, 2018 |url=https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/about_translink/governance_and_board/council_minutes_and_reports/2018/december/Agenda--Mayors-Council-PUBLIC-MTG--Dec-13-REVISED.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219222434/https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/about_translink/governance_and_board/council_minutes_and_reports/2018/december/Agenda--Mayors-Council-PUBLIC-MTG--Dec-13-REVISED.PDF |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=December 19, 2019 |publisher=TransLink |page=83}}
= R7 Richmond – Metrotown station =
This line was cancelled in October 2023 following the rejection of a proposed route by Richmond's city council. The R7 route would have roughly followed the existing 430 route via Bridgeport Road, the Knight Street Bridge, and 49th Avenue.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=October 16, 2023 |title=No BRT, no RapidBus: Richmond City Council rejects TransLink's proposed route to Metrotown |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/richmond-brt-rapidbus-rejection-translink |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017082851/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/richmond-brt-rapidbus-rejection-translink |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=Daily Hive Vancouver}}
Bus rapid transit lines
TransLink intends to implement 9 bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the coming decade, including 3 that will be upgraded from RapidBus, contingent on funding from senior levels of government.{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=April 20, 2022 |title=TransLink to double bus service, including 9 new Bus Rapid Transit lines {{!}} Urbanized |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-10-year-expansion-priorities-brt-skytrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420210310/https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-10-year-expansion-priorities-brt-skytrain |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |access-date=June 22, 2022 |url-status=live |website=dailyhive.com}} The lines will feature all-day frequent service with limited stops, near-continuous dedicated lanes and signal priority at major intersections, high-capacity buses with all-door boarding.{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2023 |title=BRT Attributes for Metro Vancouver |url=https://www.translink.ca/-/media/translink/documents/plans-and-projects/rapid-transit/bus-rapid-transit/brt-attributes-for-metro-vancouver.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117000630/https://www.translink.ca/-/media/translink/documents/plans-and-projects/rapid-transit/bus-rapid-transit/brt-attributes-for-metro-vancouver.pdf |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=Translink}} The lines will have "rail-like" stations with next-bus departure screens, transit maps and weather protection.
= Future phases =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Route !Launch date ! colspan="2" |Termini !Connection !Stops |
| King George Boulevard{{Cite web |title=Bus Rapid Transit |url=https://www.translink.ca/brt |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=www.translink.ca |language=en-CA}}
|TBD |{{Plainlist|* {{rail-interchange|vancouver|bus|size=20}} Guilford Exchange
| |
| Langley to Haney Place
|TBD |{{Plainlist|* {{rail-interchange|vancouver|bus|size=20}} Haney Place Exchange
| |
Possible BRT lines
= Metrotown to North Shore =
On November 16, 2023, TransLink made an announcement detailing three priority rapid transit corridors, including the Metrotown to North Shore corridor. The announcement called for an "immediate" extension of the R2 RapidBus past Phibbs Exchange to Metrotown station, as well as the prioritization of a BRT line.{{Citation |title=Announcing new rapid transit corridors 🚌 | date=November 17, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roLvGtDVcxs |access-date=November 17, 2023 |language=en}} However, several sources, including a page on TransLink's website, indicate that BRT on this corridor is only a possibility and that other rail-based modes are also being considered.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
- [https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/rapidbus TransLink]
{{TransLink Services|state_skytrain=collapsed|state_bus=uncollapsed}}