3 tips for a fun and safe Honda Celebration of Light on public transit

Beachgoers at English Bay waiting for the fireworks. (Honda Celebration of Light)

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It’s that time again for colourful explosions in the sky and TransLink has all the tips you need to get you to the 2017 Honda Celebration of Light transit safe and sound.

1. Avoid the lineups with Compass

Travelling with a Compass Card? Make sure to top up your Stored Value online at compasscard.ca before you head out to avoid getting stuck at a fare gate with insufficient fare.

No Compass Card? No problem! Purchase two Single Use Compass Tickets on the day of the event to bypass the lines on the way home. Just make sure to keep one Compass Ticket stored safely away for use later. Note – purchased Compass tickets will expire at the end of the service day.

2. Additional service to get you there and back

In order to move the anticipated 20,000+ people to and from the fireworks, TransLink is adding extra service to and from downtown and the West End. To help manage crowds, there will be various changes to the way you may typically take transit into Vancouver:

Bus
- Expect extra bus trips to downtown Vancouver after 6:30 pm and additional service after the events. Some downtown and West End buses will be detoured. For a full list of detours, visit translink.ca/alerts.
SkyTrain
- Expo/Millennium Line will operate peak service from mid-afternoon, with the last scheduled train departing Waterfront Station at 1:16 am. Service will be extended beyond this time if necessary.
- Canada Line will operate regular hours of service (last departure from Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse Station is at 1:15 am), with peak service for the entire evening and extra service from Waterfront at the end of the fireworks, with trains running every 3 minutes.
West Coast Express
- Commuter rail trains will operate one special train on August 5 only, leaving Mission City at 7 pm and arriving at Waterfront Station at 8:15 pm. The return train departs Waterfront at midnight, arriving back at Mission City at about 1:15 am.
SeaBus
- Extra and extended service will be provided for each of the fireworks nights:
  - Saturday, July 29: 15 minute service from 9 am to 12:15 am, with a third vessel between 10 am and 8 pm
  - Wednesday, August 2 and Saturday, August 5: Every 15 minutes from 6 am to 12:15 am

(TransLink)

3. Plan your trip and find help

Use TransLink’s handy Trip Planner to check your route and schedule times prior to leaving. The information noted here is subject to change. For the latest and most up-to-date information, bookmark m.translink.ca on your mobile device so you can know on the go.

Customer Information can be reached at 604.953.3333 or tweet us @TransLink.

TransLink Ambassadors will be out-and-about at various SkyTrain stations to help you get where you need to go. Look for the blue TransLink TravelSmart shirts for information.

Our community engagement bus will also be on location at Second Beach from 2 pm to 11 pm each night sharing maps and information.

Need a little more help? Download the Transit Police SeeSay app before you leave or program 87-77-77 into your phone to discreetly report any non-emergency police issues.