Blink RapidBus
{{use Canadian English|date=May 2024}}
{{short description|Bus rapid transit line}}
{{Infobox bus line
|box_width =
|number = 95 Langford/Downtown RapidBus
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|subheader = RapidBus
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|system = Victoria Regional Transit System
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|status = Active
|open = April 10, 2023
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|predecessors = 50 Langford/50 Downtown
|night = Friday and Saturday
|locale = Greater Victoria
|communities = Victoria, Saanich, View Royal, Colwood, Langford
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|start = Downtown Victoria
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|end = Langford
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|level = Daily
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|frequency = Every 7{{endash}}30 minutes
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|time = 35{{endash}}57 minutes
|day = 5:00{{nbsp}}a.m.{{snd}}1:00{{nbsp}}a.m. (3:00{{nbsp}}a.m. Fri{{endash}}Sat)
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}}{{Cleanup|date=April 2024|reason=The article is full of incorrect capitalization, use of prepositions, and conjunctions.}}{{Blink RapidBus}}
Blink RapidBus is a bus rapid transit system in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, as part of the Victoria Regional Transit System. Currently it only consists of one route, Line 95, which connects Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Saanich, and Victoria. Its termini are at Langford Exchange in Langford and the Legislature Exchange in Downtown Victoria.
History
Rapid transit has been proposed in the Greater Victoria area since at least 2011, when a light rail line was proposed to link Langford and Downtown Victoria. It was expected to cost $1 billion.{{cite news |title=$1B rapid transit line suggested for Victoria |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/1b-rapid-transit-line-suggested-for-victoria-1.1118883 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=CBC |date=26 April 2011}} In 2018, Premier of British Columbia John Horgan said that there wasn't a business case for light rail on the abandoned E&N Railway corridor and that his government would focus on building bus lanes.{{cite news |last1=Leyne |first1=Les |title=Les Leyne: Horgan puts brakes on light rail for E&N |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/les-leyne-horgan-puts-brakes-on-light-rail-for-en-4662162 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=16 May 2018}}
There have been transit lanes on portions of Douglas Street, one of the roads Line 95 traverses, since 2014, when curb lanes had been reserved for transit and bikes during AM and PM peak hours.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Megan |title=Victoria cracks down on bus lane cheats |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-cracks-down-on-bus-lane-cheats-1.3831674 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=CBC |date=2 November 2016}} These lanes have been expanded to all-day dedicated bus lanes that stretch {{convert|4.4|km|abbr=on}} from Fisgard Street to the Trans-Canada Highway (which Douglas Street turns into) at the Burnside Road overpass. The bus lanes are predicted to save bus riders 10 minutes on their journey.{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Jeff |title=Dedicated bus lanes now complete between Fisgard Street and Burnside Road overpass |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/dedicated-bus-lanes-now-complete-between-fisgard-street-and-burnside-road-overpass-4680600 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=15 April 2020}} There are discussions ongoing with Transport Canada about extending the bus lanes further down the Trans-Canada Highway. There are also plans to add similar lanes to the Island Highway.{{cite news |last1=Moreton |first1=Bailey |title=Date set for faster RapidBus route between Langford and downtown Victoria |url=https://www.goldstreamgazette.com/news/date-set-for-faster-rapidbus-route-between-langford-and-downtown-victoria-649269 |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Goldstream News Gazette |date=15 February 2023}}
In 2021, BC Transit announced plans for a RapidBus system. It was hoped that phase 1 of their plans, a "West Shore Line" between Langford and downtown, would be implemented within 3 years. In phase 2, there are plans for 2 more lines: a "Peninsula Line" and a "UVic Line." The Peninsula Line will link Downtown Victoria with the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in North Saanich via the Patricia Bay Highway. The UVic Line will link the University of Victoria with Uptown via McKenzie Avenue. There would be connections between the 3 RapidBus routes at an Uptown/Saanich Exchange. The project hadn't been costed yet, but Transportation Minister Rob Fleming noted that there's new funding sources for public transit projects, such as the Canadian federal government announcing a new transit infrastructure fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=McLachlan, Philip & |first1=Mehta, Shalu |title=West Shore RapidBus strategy unveiled |url=https://thediscourse.ca/vancouver-island/west-shore-rapidbus |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=The Discourse |date=16 July 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Arrais |first1=Pedro |title=B.C. Transit reveals details of Blink RapidBus in Victoria |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/bc-transit-reveals-details-of-new-blink-rapidbus-between-west-shore-victoria-6768048 |access-date=29 October 2023 |issue=Times Colonist |date=28 March 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Carla |title=B.C. Transit studies upgraded service on Saanich Peninsula |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/study-paves-way-for-rapidbus-on-saanich-peninsula-7060002 |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=27 May 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Andrew |title=Plan calls for rapid buses between downtown Victoria and West Shore within three years |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/plan-calls-for-rapid-buses-between-downtown-victoria-and-west-shore-within-three-years-4690419 |access-date=1 November 2023 |work=Times Colonist |date=30 June 2021}}
Line 95 commenced service on April 10, 2023. It replaced the Route 50, following the same routing but with fewer stops. Only one pair of stops were removed though, as the other stops continue to be used by other routes. Line 95 is branded orange, as will all future RapidBus routes, with new RapidBus signs and stations being installed.{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=BC Transit launches new 'Blink RapidBus' connecting downtown Victoria, Langord |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9616707/new-victoria-rapidbus/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |work=Global News |date=11 April 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Blandy |first1=Curtis |title=New rapid bus service between West Shore and downtown Victoria launches in April |url=https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2023/03/new-rapid-bus-service-between-west-shore-and-downtown-victoria-launches-in-april/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |work=Victoria Buzz |date=27 March 2023}} On September 5, 2023, BC Transit extended their late night service on Friday and Saturday nights on multiple routes, including Route 95. Buses run until 3:00{{nbsp}}a.m. on those nights, although late-night service may not run on holidays.{{cite news |last1=Alde |first1=Nevada |title=BC Transit announces Greater Victoria will return to their fall schedule in September |url=https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2023/08/bc-transit-announces-greater-victoria-buses-will-return-to-their-fall-schedule-in-september/ |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=Victoria Buzz |date=22 August 2023}}{{cite web |title=Victoria Route Overview |url=https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/schedules-and-maps/route-overview?route=95 |website=BC Transit |access-date=2 November 2023}}
Service frequency
Line 95 runs every 7{{endash}}8 minutes during peak hours, at least every 15 minutes from 7:00{{nbsp}}a.m.{{snd}}10:00{{nbsp}}p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 8:00{{nbsp}}a.m.{{snd}}10:00{{nbsp}}p.m. on Sundays. Service is reduced during early mornings and late nights. Compared to route 50, the Route 95 has 8% greater service on Saturdays, 12% on weekdays, and 18% on Sundays.{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Kenneth |title=BC Transit launches first RapidBus route serving Victoria |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/blink-rapidbus-line-95-victoria-bc-transit |access-date=29 October 2023 |work=Daily Hive Vancouver |date=12 April 2023}}