Tri-City transit riders may be seeing some route changes in the near future.
TransLink is aiming to optimize five routes in the area to improve coverage and reliability and to discontinue service in low-demand areas. Changes may include shifts in service frequency, changes in vehicle type and to network architecture.
The routes with proposed changes are:
C24: The C24 duplicates the 97 B-Line, 151 and 156 along Clarke Drive between Glenayre Drive and Lougheed Town Centre; C24 trips will be rerouted via Robinson Street and Foster Avenue to fill service gap in that area. Passengers who board the C24 on Clarke will have to transfer to the 97 B-Line, 151 or 156.
C29, C30, C38: Services will be rerouted near Coquitlam Centre to avoid overlap and minimize C38 delays due to railroad crossings. C29 will be rerouted via Glen Drive, C30 rerouted via Westwood Street and Lougheed Highway and C38 rerouted via Dewdney Trunk Road.
153: Because the 153 and 156 duplicate services on Brunette Avenue between Schoolhouse Street and Braid SkyTrain station, the 153 will be rerouted via Schoolhouse between Brunette and Lougheed Highway, which offers increased access to Schoolhouse.
177: Route will be eliminated due to closure of Riverview Hospital. The section between Braid SkyTrain and United Boulevard will be via the 159.
159, 169: All 159 trips will be rerouted via the 177 route, west of United Boulevard, with potential for additional 169 stops on Lougheed Highway.
179, 189: Both routes will be discontinued and replaced with new 188 David Avenue/Coast Meridian bus, which will run along Pinetree Way, David Avenue and Coast Meridian to broaden coverage between Coquitlam Centre, northeast Coquitlam and PoCo.
555 (Port Mann Express): Said to be running by early December, the new 555 will run between Langley and the Lougheed SkyTrain station, with service every 10 minutes in peak hours and every 30 minutes in non-peak hours.
Marisa Espinosa, manager of TransLink service planning, presented the proposed changes to Port Moody council Tuesday.
TransLink spokesperson Drew Snider said the changes would be implemented in mid-2013 at the earliest and, depending on the scope of the changes, riders would be notified a few weeks in advance through a comprehensive communications strategy.
The public is welcome to offer feedback during the open consultation phase, from Nov. 19 to Dec. 13, online at www.translink.ca/serviceop. An open house is also scheduled for Coquitlam on Wednesday, Nov. 21 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way).
