I agree. I think there’s a great case for reduced service. There’s a quick, fancy train running several blocks away. It’s a serious disservice to riders to shut this down entirely.

Has the bus riders’ union commented publicly?

So, here’s my guess – there’s a whole bunch of things that happen if ridership on the Canada Line doesn’t reach a certain level. IIRC, the gov’t would then owe the private developers some money. So translink will do everything it can to increase ridership on the Canada Line – to the detriment of everything else if necessary, so as to avoid such a penalty

Seems like complete idiocy to me. The buses that do run along Granville Street other than the 98 are already generally full to the rafters. Those people are not going to move over to the Cambie line to get to home/work along Granville Street and to the west of there.

Shutting down the B-Line makes complete sense. The overwhelming majority of traffic on the B-Line in both directions is pulling people in and out of Richmond to and from UBC and downtown. (the airport has nothing to do with this) Since the Canada line will be servicing Richmond extensively it is a much faster, lower carbon option for these commuters.

The actually amount of business and commuter traffic within Vancouver on the Granville corridor is negligible. Between 60th and 16th there is nothing but low density single family homes and even between 60th and marine it is also low density commercial. You only have medium density residential and commercial at Broadway – you don’t need a B-line to service it for people from Richmond.

I think they are making a big mistake.

The people who make these changes need to bus everywhere and NOT own a car.

How many of the people taking the 98 B-Line are doing the exact opposite – travelling down Granville and then getting off and travelling the blocks between Granville and Cambie?

The 98 B-line holds less people uses far more fuel, pollutes more, and takes up space on the streets. If they can get rid of the 98 as an artery in favor of the Canada Line, and then supplement it with more local bus service, it’s better for everyone.

It makes no sense to run the new, fast, efficient, comfortable, high-capacity Canada Line alongside cramped, packed, uncomfortable, polluting buses that can be augmented with more smaller-scale local service (e.g. community shuttles) and more efficient vehicles (like the trolleys).

Good riddance, 98 B-Line. You will not be missed.

Translink is also shutting down all express buses from Vancouver to Richmond, which means the Canada Line will be your only option. I can’t wait until the first time the Canada Line goes down and people will have to find an alternate way home.

This is the scenario if the Canada Line is disrupted: Translink won’t be able to get the “bus bridge” up and running in time to cope with the backload, meaning a Skytrain ride to Metrotown or 22nd Street, then a long bus ride for commuters to and from Richmond. Or a very long walk across the new pedestrian-bike bridge.

As long as there is enough local service to supplement the downtown to broadway corridor, I’ll be happy. But I’m worried that won’t be there right away. I live just off granville and broadway, and the 98 is the best and fastest way for me to get downtown right now. Going to cambie doesn’t make sense at the moment. So, as long as there is enough #16 service, I’ll be fine. Fingers crossed!

Most people I’ve talked to have a similar attitude, particularly students from UBC who aren’t terribly well served by the Canada Line, at least in terms of getting to YVR.

I don’t think it’s going to be that big a deal once the system adjusts. The far bigger issue is, after all, the severe budget shortfall Translink is facing, which could necessitate other service cuts.

Service on the #10 *should* be increased, and there’s nothing stopping them adding exp. runs during peak demand down to Marpole.

The existing articulated buses can be spread more equitably around the entire network – the two other B-lines for example, and other express routes, several of which will run between Cambie and Granville (the #33, #43, #84, #99). Other routes like the #49 in South Van could be given exp. runnings too because of the #98’s demise.

They’re badly needed, and with the budget, I just don’t see extra buses added anytime soon.

In the end, the majority of rider trips on the #98 were going to and from Richmond anyways, according to Translink. That, coupled with the removal of all the commuter buses, could make the local buses considerably faster, assuming you made the right-lane along Granville a carpool/turning/transit only.

That’s not to say I personally won’t miss it. I travel between Vancouver & Victoria regularly by transit, and my travel time to UBC where I live probably won’t improve at all (until there’s a skytrain comes to Point Grey) but I think to call it a “mistake” from a planning perspective is far too premature.

It seems foolish to me to shut down the 98 B-Line. Granville is such a busy street, and I doubt the #10 buses can compensate for the missing B Lines.

I imagine they’re cutting it due to money issues and not because there won’t be enough people to ride it. The more transit options we have, the more people that will take transit. I’ve always used our transit system as my main mode of transportation, but they certainly don’t make it an easy decision to stick by. Here’s hoping the Canada Line provides the exact level of service we need and we’re not all left waiting in the cold, rainy weather waiting for our bus.

I don’t know why this surprises people My interpretation of the purpose of the 98 was to provide express service between downtown Van, broadway, south Van, airport, and Richmond. Canada Line now fulfills that service.

Route 10 services Granville for local traffic, and there aren’t that many offices/homes along it anyhow. It cuts through an upscale neighbourhood where you’ll find most folks driving regardless of transit service quality.

“they’ll be screwed when the Canada Line goes down” I’d put my money on the Canada Line being, on average, more reliable and timely than buses.

I totally see your points, but my point of view differs a bit. My thoughts, when I first heard about it (I live in Marpole between Granville and Oak) was that it makes sense to reduce all that bus traffic on Granville. Also, since they built that bus depot at the south end of Granville down by the river, now even the empty buses travel down Granville among all the others coming and going. I’m not a huge fan of the Canada line (sure I could do a 20 minute walk to get there) as it cost a lot of money to service a primarily Richmond / Downtown commuter. The 98 is usually packed coming out of Richmond (that doesn’t serve me well either), I’ll prefer a #10 “trolley”

Well, now it’s here, the Canada Line that is. So, I embrace the environmental reward of it. I’ll probably only take it myself for fun, otherwise doesn’t serve me directly. Nice 15-20 minute walk and I can blast over to the airport and hang out in the bar, maybe picking up some flight attendants LOL

With the induction of this Canada Line, I sure hope that a few bus routes get eliminated and/or reduced. Granville has become a highway. This is a take, give & take.

Thanks, great post and good discussion.

~Peter

The Canada Line does NOT improve service for many people who now commute from Richmond – and other places south of the Fraser. People who now get a comfortable one seat bus ride will be forced to transfer onto small, crowded trains which have very few seats.

Translink says that it will increase frequency of trolleybuses on Granville, but clearly that is a much slower option than B Line for Vancouver riders. On the other hand east-west services within Vancouver will be feeding into the stations.

The #15 on Cambie is supposedly going to get not only less frequent service, but smaller buses too.

More seriously, the increased subsidies required by the private sector contractors running the Canada Line and the Golden Ears Bridge are one reason why Translink needs more revenue – which the province is unlikely to provide. So we can expect to see significant transit service cuts across the region to pay for these projects.

Of course, I’m not really one to comment on buses, bus service frequently disappoints me too so I mostly avoid it and bike instead.

Let’s be honest – we can only attempt to predict changes in commuter patterns – we don’t actually know how the Canada Line will affect them. I’m sure if this decision proves an error that Translink will make further adjustments. Let’s give it a chance before we chastise them.

In all matters transport, I trust Stephan Rees’ opinion

I was at a UBC Geography Alumni lecture a few years ago and Lance Berelowitz was the guest speaker. We were discussing the Canada Line (at the time the Cambie corridor had been decided and the Arbutus corridor ditched).

Besides issues of West Side NIMBYism, he basically questioned why we look at it as an either/or issue – why can’t we look at having both?

I feel exactly the same way with the B-line/Canada line.

Stephen, I think you can divide Richmond commuters into two: those who took those comfortable exp. buses all the way into town, and those who took a cramped B-Line all the way into town. One is going to be MUCH better served than the other by the Canada Line, although both will be equally squished.

So people that currently take the usually packed #98 from Downtown along Granville Street to YVR (and beyond) now have to make their way to either a Skytrain station (by taking another bus or a taxi) or get on a bus somwhere and get off at some place along Granville and transfer to another bus and get off @ Cambie to get on the Skytrain? Sounds real confusing, eh? I currently take #99 from UBC to Granville @ Broadway then transfer to #98 to YVR to #620 to go to the ferry for my weekend trips to Victoria. I’m thrilled I will now have to go all the way on #99 to Cambie, get off, and go to the Skytrain, go to YVR, and get off and get on a bus to the YVR bus loop to get the #620 to the ferry. That’ll add probably 30-40 minutes to my current 1 hour travel time what with all the transfers and waiting around. Oh yeah, that’ll really encourage people to take public transit instead of driving or hailing a cab. Way to go Translink for botching up an already efficient mode of transportation.

After a bit more research, I’m actually going to recant my position that it is a bad idea.

The plan Translink has shows the #10 continuing to serve the entire length of Granville St. but it will run more frequently than it currently does. It runs approx. every 15 minutes now and the increased frequency after September 7th shows it running every 7 to 8 minutes. They’ve also got increased East/West connection service to the Canada Line feeding from the Granville corridor. http://bit.ly/vmlmm

Based on the above I withdraw my “Seems like complete idiocy to me” comment, although given Translink’s history it’s probably best to reserve judgement until it’s all actually up and running and then the system has its first snow day

What a great discussion. I’d have to say that my opinion lies mostly with Dan Udey and TheQuack (though I don’t know what agreeing with a quack makes of me!). I’m in favour of smaller scale community shuttles and, as the bus routes are an iterate being, things can always be changed.

Route 10 on Granville will have 137 trips per day in the fall (up from 89 now) and presumably most of the 98 B-Line passengers will take the Canada Line instead, so I’m fairly confident that things will be just fine without the 98 B-Line. Different, yes, and of course there are some people affected negatively by the changes, but on the whole, I think most people will see an improvement. Time will tell, I suppose, but TransLink can always make adjustments later if necessary, too.

I believe anyone traveling to Victoria will save time. I travel their frequently via the 601 or 98B and connect to the 620. BlissfulGirl’s link [http://bit.ly/vmlmm] shows that the 601/602/620 will now connect at Bridgeport Station. I wish it was further down frankly (like the Brighouse terminal).

Those living downtown and heading to Victoria will love this.

Thanks everyone who chimed in. This is one of the many reasons why I blog – to read smart, cogent, well articulated commentary from my readers. We all learn from each other.

I love the position “not either or” – actually that’s what I’d like – how about a reduced 98 B-Line with increased commuter buses within the southlands AND everyone using the Canada line. That’d be FANTASTIC.

If I’m not mistaken they’re routing bunch express lines from Delta, White Rock & Surrey to Richmond as well. Logistically that makes sense. This means less cars going into downtown and the sky train is a more efficient way to travel. The thing is, not everyone taking these lines are going directly to downtown and these changes will only add more pain.

Getting rid of the 98 B-line I think is a poor move too. Like Raul said, Cambie and Granville are too far apart to service those areas.

I like how they are planning for the North Road corridor expansion of the SkyTrain, too bad they are 20years too late The bus system out of vancouver area is horrible and its why I never took it.

I work on Granville. Now i need to take bus from new boardway station to granville. i suggest increase n10 bus at morning before 10am. Remove 98B, i will take me at least 20min more by using Canada Line to go to Granville st.

My partner lives in downtown YVR and works at Granville & 71st. He currently squishes onto the sardine line known as the 98Bline. He’s looking forward to changing his routine to bike to the Canada Line, ride it to marine Dr. in comfort and bike to work from there.

Some people will be inconveninced by the change to the Canada Line, some people will gain a more convenient service. Hard to tell right now which there will be more of (since we don’t hear moaning from the latter category).

Translink is too broke to provide all the transit service everyone wants. We should all be writing to the province to demand more funding for transit if we don’t like the shortfalls.

Okay…so yeah unfortunately there will be a significant amount of people that are effected with the issue regarding loosing the 98Bline but people have to take in account that this city is best know as a “Green City” by all means we want to reduce the amount of gas emissions and pollutants that are already making it worse for the environment.

I don’t know about you guys but i want to live in a smog free city so by reducing the amount of buses along the Granville corridor this will prevent many environmental issues in the future that this city could face.
People have to take in consideration that the people along the Cambie corridor have also for many years been without an express bus that have been dealing with just regular buses that are cramped and sometimes delayed with long commutes; in essence its the turn of the Cambie people to live the fast metropolitan life style within the fast rapid transit.
If this is such a huge issue for people then **speak out** do what ever you can to improve the transit system along the Granville corridor.

By the way if some of you don’t know Translink is trying to improve the route for ubc travelers as well..with the UBC line from VCC Clark to UBC its part of the 2020 plan…well i only hope that more people or organzations could contribute more time and money so that this city could one day be considered one a care free or gas emission free by eliminating vehicles up to 75%.

Be happy and greatful for what this city has to offer and we will only recieve more

but the way the last paragraph i meant to say care free not care free…my bad…lol

Does anyone know how many people live between broadway and 70th on granville? Every day I ride the b-line it is packed, and alot of those people take it to get downtown for work. Its wonderful that he idiots at transit put a sky train on cambie. But how in the world does that help the thousands of people that live closer to granville then they do cambie…. Plus its not like its just one fucking main street we are talking about Granville to Cambie is two full major steets and 12 blocks as the article says. Finally even with the b-line running the #10 is packed all the time. All in all he people at Transit are jokes and dont give a shit about the public

I leave in Steveston. My commute has increased by 25 minutes each way… ever since they cancelled #490 and other express buses that run along Granville Street. Damn you translink!