TransLink rolls out snow plan ahead of this weekend's wintery weather

In advance of this weekend’s snow forecast, TransLink its rolling out its plan of attack when it comes to navigating the city’s snowy streets.

“TransLink’s operations are monitoring the weather and are prepared, under our snow/adverse weather plans, for near-freezing temperatures and snow forecasted to start falling tomorrow morning and possibly over the weekend,” the company said Thursday in a release.

See also

• City of Vancouver prepares for February snowfall
• City of Vancouver says it is fully stocked with salt, prepared for next snowfall
• More snow expected to hit Vancouver this weekend

The operations department has identified seven steps they will take “to keep our customers safe and keep public transit moving in snowy and slushy conditions,” TransLink added.

These steps are:

• We work closely with our municipal partners to have bus routes ploughed first.
• If a street is not plowed, operators may refrain from pulling into bus stops to avoid getting stuck. In these cases, operators will stop in an area that is safe and accessible for riders.
• Trolley de-icer trucks will spray the entire trolley overhead system if there is a forecast risk of frost or ice.
• SkyTrain power rail and collector shoes on the trains will be de-iced, and de-icing stations set up in covered areas and tunnels.
• Measures are also taken to ensure rail switches are protected from freezing.
• During times of heavy overnight snow, SkyTrain will run throughout the night to keep tracks clear.
• Where possible, articulated buses are replaced by traditional ones. They’re more agile and better equipped to handle hills or streets that have poor conditions.

TransLink added that customers should remember to dress for the elements, wear proper footwear and expect occasional service disruptions throughout the day.

“We encourage our customers to plan ahead and to make sure to allow extra commuting time,” TransLink added. “Customers can check with online Trip Planner or mobile device, or sign up for transit alerts so they’ll be the first to know if there are changes in the transit schedule.